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Learners from Kgaphamadi settlement can finally breathe a sigh of relief after years of walking in darkness and fear.Following complaints from parents, school authorities, and traditional leaders last year, a vehicle has now been made available by the government to transport children to and from school daily, a long-awaited intervention that has brought hope to the struggling community.Kgosi Moleofi Modumo of Kgaphamadi confirmed that a vehicle now collects learners every morning and returns them home after school.“We are relieved as a community, for a long time, we lived in fear. We worried that one day a child would be raped or disappear into the bushes while walking to school; that fear was real,” he said.Last year, this publication detailed the harsh realities faced by children in the area, who were forced to walk approximately 26 kilometres to Boitumelo Primary School in Sebele and Motswedi Junior Secondary School in Ledumang.Many left home as early as 3AM, navigating gravel paths and thick bush in the dark to reach school.Parents spoke of sleepless nights, terrified that their children could fall victim to criminals or wild animals along the isolated routes.School authorities also raised alarm over declining attendance, fatigue, and poor academic performance linked directly to the exhausting journey. Now, the mood in Kgaphamadi has shifted.According to Kgosi Modumo, the transport arrangement followed engagements between community leaders and relevant authorities after concerns were publicly raised.“We knocked on doors and asked for intervention. We made it clear that our children’s safety could not be compromised any longer. We are grateful that our cries were heard.”Parents say the new development has already made a noticeable difference. Children no longer have to wake up in the early hours of the morning or rely on lifts from strangers to get to school.“You cannot concentrate at work knowing your child is walking in the bush before sunrise,” he said.Teachers at the receiving schools are also optimistic that the transport arrangement will improve punctuality and classroom performance.Previously, many learners arrived late, exhausted, and hungry, circumstances that negatively affected both morale and results.Community members believe the transport initiative will also help curb social challenges that have begun to surface among the youth.There were growing concerns about teenage pregnancies, school dropouts, and vulnerability to exploitation, with some learners reportedly accepting lifts from unknown motorists.The absence of reliable transport had inadvertently exposed children to risky situations.Kgosi Modumo emphasised that while the vehicle is not a permanent solution to all of Kgaphamadi’s infrastructure challenges, it is a critical first step.“This is progress. Our area still lacks proper roads and other services, but at least our children now have safer access to education.”Residents hope the intervention will pave the way for broader development in the settlement, which, despite its proximity to Gaborone, has long remained underserved.

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