Blame flies on empty seats

Blame is flying in several directions in Nelson Mandela Bay over thousands of empty seats at the party’s manifesto launch on Saturday.

One taxi association has pointed a finger at Transport MEC Weziwe Tikana, claiming it was as a result of her logistical bungling that scores of ANC supporters were unable to attend.

Border Alliance Taxi Association (Bata) regional chairman Mnikelo Ntantiso – who represents some of the taxi operators hired to ferry supporters – complained that she had failed to negotiate with them and offered to pay only R1200 a vehicle, which they said was not enough to cover their costs.

However, Santaco – the mother body to which Bata is affiliated – came to Tikana’s defence.

Santaco regional chairman Mbewana Matomane said Tikana had negotiated with them, as dictated by the taxi industry protocol, and not with individual associations.

Tikana’s involvement was in her capacity as transport coordinator for the ANC’s provincial executive committee, and not in her official capacity as MEC, she said yesterday.

Tikana said some operators had wanted to exploit the situation.

Ntantiso said Tikana expected them to work “like volunteers” and would not pay what they believe they were entitled to.

He said on Friday they eventually accepted a payment of R1200 per vehicle to make one round trip from pickup points across the metro to the stadium, and then back again after the rally.

Ntantiso said the amount was not enough for their expenses and that the arrangement meant they’d had to leave many supporters stranded.

“Our drivers need to be paid, they are at work. Our cars must be paid, they must be serviced.”

“The MEC became arrogant,” Ntantiso said. “She did not want to work with us.

“She wanted to dictate the terms. We were bypassed.”

Tikana, however, said: “Normally, a trip from Uitenhage to PE on a 13-seater taxi costs R20 per person. It means a return trip should cost R520.

“So when they are demanding R1200, they are exploiting the situation.

“They are meant to be paid per passenger. Even from Motherwell to the stadium they wanted R1200.

“The arrangement was that the amount would be distributed to them all, including buses. They must understand that to all public transport operators.

“They are monopolising . They even indicated that if we had taken buses only they would close roads and no one would go anywhere.”

Tikana said the ANC had paid the money to Santaco’s regional account and it would be up to Santaco to distribute it.

Matomane – whose organisation is in charge of 10 taxi associations in the metro – said he had explained to the associations how business would be conducted.

“Those complaining are speaking for their own interests and not the taxi industry. The taxi industry in this metro is controlled by me as regional chairperson. They are supposed to do as I say, because they are under my control.

“Their query was that they wanted the request to go through Laphum’ilanga .

“Laphum’ilanga is our wing as a region. It is not above us.”

Matomane said operators had rendered a service and even though more people came out needing transport at the 11th hour, operators had done what they could.

He said they had no complaints against Tikana.