Scholar transport – challenges remain

While the issue of transporting scholars is being handled with care, there are still however challenges to be sorted out starting with the list of all local scholar transporters which has not yet been finalised.
While the Endumeni Scholar Transport Club (ESTC) is permited to operate as scholar transporters, they also need to comply with the only registered and recognised association in the area, Dundee Transport Association (DTA). The relationship between the two organisations is vital and plays a crucial role in the transportation of scholars in the area.
In the last meeting it transpired that Endumeni Scholar Transport Club (ESTC) has, as well as Dundee Transport Association (DTA), had not met to discuss further as to how they are to assist each other.
Regardless of the attempts being made by the municipality, and promises made at the meetings, it has transpired that there has to be more done. In the last meeting, attended by Mayor Mahaye, he ruled that as per agreement in the previous meetings held with Speaker, Sduduzo Mdluli, the ESTC, was to produce a list of all scholar transporters because it had been made clear to him by the the traffic department that there is only one organisation recognised in Dundee and that is DTA.
The DTA, however, mentioned that they have been waiting for the ESTC to come forward with the list but this is yet to happen.
Mr Nkosi of the ESTC apologised and explained that they ‘have been doing their own process of identifying the people who are to be part of the club as they also want to avoid having outsiders invading the industry’. Frikkie Coetzee, acting traffic chief, raised a challenge faced by his office that there has been a number of people coming in for permits who claim they transport scholars. He said without the list this will make it difficult to give the proper people permits. He urged that the list be compiled and handed in as soon as possible.