The Mbombela Transport Service (MTS), Mpumalanga Association of Student Accommodation (MASA), University of Mpumalanga (UMP), and Tshwane University of Technology held a meeting on Wednesday, August 27, after a month of disruptive protests came to a head.

The meeting followed a strike on Tuesday and Wednesday, August 26 and 27, which resulted in the closure of both universities. Roads leading to the campuses were barricaded by taxis, forcing students to return home and continue their studies online.

They attempted to find solutions to challenges regarding transport services and payments.According to UMP spokesperson Tlangelani Ubisi, the university management had a successful meeting with taxi operators and other stakeholders affected by NSFAS-related challenges. “An agreement has been reached to restore normal university operations.

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Therefore, academic activities at the Mbombela Campus will resume as usual,” he said.MTS was launched in early August, after taxi operators began their strikes. The organisation will oversee all school transport in Mbombela, including primary and high schools, TVET colleges, and universities.

Masiza Lukhele, chairperson of MTS drivers, said they had a fruitful meeting with all stakeholders. He explained that after the protest began, three taxi associations merged into one organisation to focus specifically on school transport; however, the associations remain independent outside of these services.

MTS is calling on NSFAS to allocate a transport budget, similar to how it pays for private student accommodation. “We should also be paid directly for transporting students. At the moment, we are paid by accommodation owners, but the rates are inconsistent and payments are often late.

“We decided to embark on a protest to get the attention of all stakeholders. Now, after the meeting, we have agreed to work together. We just need to find a way to approach NSFAS to resolve some of these issues, especially regarding transport payments. Going forward, we have promised there will be no unnecessary strikes or disruptions to teaching and learning,” said Lukhele.

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Meanwhile, Top Star Taxi Association’s chairperson, John Mavundla, said they have been transporting students for many years without a proper payment system. He noted that they have often faced challenges with landlords, including delayed and incomplete payments. Mavundla added that further solutions would be discussed with NSFAS in a follow-up meeting.

MASA’s executive secretary, Amos Mdluli, stated that they are not currently receiving any transport funds from NSFAS. Instead, landlords make their own arrangements with certain taxi operators to transport the students they accommodate, paying them whatever amount they agree on. Mdluli added that NSFAS needs to clarify these issues so that accommodation and transport services can work together more effectively.
“We don’t have a budget from NSFAS for transport.

We use the little we get for accommodation, or even our own money, to cover transport for the students. Some student residences are as far as KaNyamazane and Matsulu,” said Mdluli.

Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison spokesperson, Moeti Mmusi, stressed that communities and road users should express their grievances through the proper channels without violating others’ rights. “We hope that the stakeholders find a working solution that will bring peace to everyone affected,” said Mmusi.