Eastern Cape taxi operators have asked the ANC to intervene in their fight with the department of transport. On Monday, operators led by the Uncedo taxi association met with the ANC to discuss the scholar transport tender.
Uncedo Taxi Association Eastern Cape president Ntsikelelo Gaehler confirmed they attended a meeting at the ANC’s provincial headquarters to discuss, among other things, the decision to award the scholar transport tender to individual operators.
“We are not happy with how (transport MEC Weziwe Tikana) is doing things on scholar transport. We want the provincial ANC to intervene and help the situation.
“We are happy with the response and assistance we got from the party,” said Gaehler.
ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane said the meeting with taxi operators was originally planned for the end of 2014 but due to unforeseen circumstances was only held on Monday.
“At the centre of the meeting was the issue of scholar transport and the challenges they face as transport operators.
“We have agreed that they (taxi operators and transport department) will ensure that come January 21 when schools reopen learners are transported,” Mabuyane said.
Yesterday East London High Court judge Dawid van Zyl ordered that Tikana and education MEC Mandla Makupula refrain from proceeding with the programme.
Van Zyl further ordered that Tikana should re-advertise the scholar transport tender by January 31. Last week Uncedo were granted an interim interdict preventing the provincial transport department from continuing with its scholar transport tender.
However, Eastern Cape bus council deputy chairman Bixie Mkuntu said they were not aware of the meeting between operators and the ANC.
“We still stand by the decision of the MEC that the scholar transport must be operated by individuals. We don’t need third parties,” said Mkuntu.
Last week Eastern Cape taxi and bus associations distanced themselves from a legal battle between the Uncedo taxi association and the transport department.
In a meeting with transport MEC Weziwe Tikana last Wednesday, the Eastern Cape Bus Council and South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) came out in support of the department.
Tikana will host a dialogue on scholar transport at the Orient Theatre in East London at 10am tomorrow.
“We will have a panel discussion, which will include parents, learners, educators and the public transport industry,” transport spokesman Ncedo Kumbaca said. — mphumziz@dispatch.co.za / bonganif@dispatch.co.za
Taxis plea to ANC to intervene
Uncedo Taxi Association Eastern Cape president Ntsikelelo Gaehler confirmed they attended a meeting at the ANC’s provincial headquarters to discuss, among other things, the decision to award the scholar transport tender to individual operators.
“We are not happy with how (transport MEC Weziwe Tikana) is doing things on scholar transport. We want the provincial ANC to intervene and help the situation.
“We are happy with the response and assistance we got from the party,” said Gaehler.
ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane said the meeting with taxi operators was originally planned for the end of 2014 but due to unforeseen circumstances was only held on Monday.
“At the centre of the meeting was the issue of scholar transport and the challenges they face as transport operators.
“We have agreed that they (taxi operators and transport department) will ensure that come January 21 when schools reopen learners are transported,” Mabuyane said.
Yesterday East London High Court judge Dawid van Zyl ordered that Tikana and education MEC Mandla Makupula refrain from proceeding with the programme.
Van Zyl further ordered that Tikana should re-advertise the scholar transport tender by January 31. Last week Uncedo were granted an interim interdict preventing the provincial transport department from continuing with its scholar transport tender.
However, Eastern Cape bus council deputy chairman Bixie Mkuntu said they were not aware of the meeting between operators and the ANC.
“We still stand by the decision of the MEC that the scholar transport must be operated by individuals. We don’t need third parties,” said Mkuntu.
Last week Eastern Cape taxi and bus associations distanced themselves from a legal battle between the Uncedo taxi association and the transport department.
In a meeting with transport MEC Weziwe Tikana last Wednesday, the Eastern Cape Bus Council and South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) came out in support of the department.
Tikana will host a dialogue on scholar transport at the Orient Theatre in East London at 10am tomorrow.
“We will have a panel discussion, which will include parents, learners, educators and the public transport industry,” transport spokesman Ncedo Kumbaca said. — mphumziz@dispatch.co.za / bonganif@dispatch.co.za
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