Strict rules for scholar transport providers

THE tension was high when scholar transport providers met with Clermont and KwaDabeka Taxi Association members last Friday.

The association held a meeting in their offices in New Germany to outline new rules and regulations for the new school year.

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An uproar started when it was announced that small cars and seven-seater cars would not be allowed to transport children.

According to the association, that decision was announced by the transport board, and they were just relaying the message.

“The small cars and seven-seaters are not equipped to transport people – it is just a family car, and it becomes a problem when there is an accident, as they are not registered as a public transporter vehicle,” said chairman Mandlenkosi Mchunu.

Addressing the scholar transport providers, the association chairman said they will not tolerate the overloads on the vehicles that are transporting learners.

Mchunu warned drivers and owners to adhere to the laws.

“We will not tolerate carelessness and overloading. The child must be picked up from the gate and be dropped off there on his or her return. This thing of waiting with children in the parks while waiting for other children should be left in the past. These are our future leaders, and we need to protect them, and they should be safe.”

He said the owners should stick to the amount that they as the association have agreed upon and not increase the money for their own benefit.

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A representative from Metro SAPS, who also attended the meeting, said they would be out in numbers to make sure that everything went smoothly on the road as schools reopened on Wednesday, January 18.

“No car will be allowed to transport learners without the association sticker. We will be doing head counts. The driver should have a valid licence and professional driving permit (PDP), operator card and a permit to transport children,” he said.

One of the seven-seater owners said they were furious about this sudden decision. “We have been transporting children with these cars for years; why stop us now? We were not even given notices or warning. What about the parents that have already paid and have trusted us with their children? They are taking away our income – we are still paying for these cars. How are we going to survive?

“They have told us that we need to get taxis or combis to be able to continue working. It is just ridiculous,” said an angry owner.