Attempt to defuse transport tensions

Attempts are being made to avoid a row brewing between the Dundee Taxi Association (DTA) and the Endumeni Scholar Transport Club (ESTC) over the transporting of school children.
The scholar transport operators were incensed when notices were placed on DTA taxis in December declaring that when schools re-open on January 21, they, the DTA, will be transporting children to and from school. Parents were concerned that the attempt to ‘get rid of’ ESTC vehicles would leave their young children vulnerable at taxi ranks without any adult supervision.
A meeting was called to simmer tensions, which was chaired by Frikkie Coetzee of the Endumeni Traffic Department. Members of the ESTC have asked for assistance in getting transport permits, as they fear that they may be hauled off the roads. Many do not have valid public transport permits. Parents and members of the ESTC feel that the DTA will not be in a position to transport scholars as well as adults in the mornings. The debate also raged on Facebook pages.
The meeting looked at ways the two organisations can work together for the benefit of school children. It was agreed that they would work ‘equally until a solution can be found’.
MB Mthembu of the DTA said their organisation ‘is a brand’ and there is ‘nothing wrong’ with them transporting scholars as their want to market their brand to the community.

Invading work space
They were concerned that many ESTC operators are illegal.
“The DTA is a registered organisation and we work according to the law and we cannot allow anyone to invade our work space,” Mr Mthembu said.
Another concern was that ESTC operators might start ‘treading on DTA turf by transporting commuters as well as children’.
Mr Mthembu claimed that they do not want any bloodshed. They merely want all the acts and rules of the business to be followed by everyone who wants to get into the taxi business. In other areas, including Newcastle, similar conflicts have ended in violence.
Endumeni Speaker, Siduduzo Mdluli, told the meeting that ‘relevant people would be contacted to come up with an amicable solution.’
“We have not had a taxi-related issue for many years here and we intend to keep it like that, “he vowed.