WATCH: Taxi operators and owners blockade R40 intersection at UMP
The protest stopped students from accessing the campus and caused congestion on the road.
The taxi operators and owners responsible for transporting students to the University of Mpumalanga (UMP) blockaded the R40 and KaMagugu junctions on Tuesday, August 12.
They were demanding measures to decrease car accidents at that section of the R40. In their demands they insisted that the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) starts paying them directly to transport students, instead of paying student accommodation landlords.
ALSO READ: Watch: Possible meteor spotted outside Lydenburg
The dispute arises from alleged delays in payments and incomplete payments.
ALSO READ: Suspect arrested in connection with the murder of Schoemansdal policeman
Muzi Mango, the chairperson of the UMP taxi service and member of the KaBokweni Taxi Association, said they are concerned about the safety of students and decided to do something about the situation before the situation worsens.
@lowvelder The taxi operators and owners responsible for transporting students to the University of Mpumalanga (UMP) blockaded the R40 and KaMagugu junctions on Tuesday, August 12. They were demanding measures to decrease car accidents at that section of the R40. In their demands they insisted that the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) starts paying them directly to transport students, instead of paying student accommodation landlords. The dispute arises from alleged delays in payments and incomplete payments. Muzi Mango, the chairperson of the UMP taxi service and member of the KaBokweni Taxi Association, said they are concerned about the safety of students and decided to do something about the situation before the situation worsens. He added that the NSFAS payments affect the UMP taxi operators directly, as even though they provide the services, they are forced to wait for the landlords to give them their share. “They pay us peanuts, only half, instead of the full amount for the services we rendered in that month.” The operators said that they had communicated their NSFAS payment frustrations to UMP. The newspaper contacted the university spokesperson, Tlangelani Ubisi, who confirmed that roads leading to the Mbombela campus were blocked due to a taxi strike, resulting in the disruption of academic activities. The newspaper contacted Joseph Ngala of the City of Mbombela, who said the R40 is the responsibility of Sanral. At the time of publication, Sanral had acknowledged receiving Lowvelder’s enquiry, but had not yet responded. #strike #protest #universitympumalanga #mpumalanga
He added that the NSFAS payments affect the UMP taxi operators directly, as even though they provide the services, they are forced to wait for the landlords to give them their share.
“They pay us peanuts, only half, instead of the full amount for the services we rendered in that month.”
The operators said that they had communicated their NSFAS payment frustrations to UMP. The newspaper contacted the university spokesperson, Tlangelani Ubisi, who confirmed that roads leading to the Mbombela campus were blocked due to a taxi strike, resulting in the disruption of academic activities.
The newspaper contacted Joseph Ngala of the City of Mbombela, who said the R40 is the responsibility of Sanral. At the time of publication, Sanral had acknowledged receiving Lowvelder’s enquiry, but had not yet responded.
