Transport operators waiting for permits since 2014
Operators have called on the MEC to assist in the process
POLOKWANE – A local scholar transport operator claims she applied for a transport permit two years ago but is still waiting for her permit to be issued.
The scholar transport operator, who wishes to stay anonymous due to fear of victimisation, told BONUS the Department of Transport did not want to issue permits to transport learners, despite having followed the correct procedures.
“Premier Stanley Mathabatha encouraged us to start cooperatives which we did. We now have two cooperatives, the Polokwane and the Capricorn cooperative. Unfortunately this seems to have caused confusion as the department cannot differentiate between taxi associations and cooperatives which is why we have been struggling to get permits,” she said.
According to the operator, she and a number of her colleagues, have been sent from pillar to post without getting any closer to receiving their permits.
She said what makes things worse is that they have to compete with taxis from the local taxi association who, by law, shouldn’t even transport learners from their homes to school.
Another concern she voiced is that 60% of scholar transport operators are female and they are often discriminated against.
“Taxis are picking up our learners even though they are not allowed, by law, to transport learners and some of their taxis were impounded because of this issue last week. We want to meet with the MEC of Transport and the Department of Education to voice our challenges because we cannot continue like this,” she added.
Department of Roads and Transport Manager of Communications and Media Relations Officer, Joshua Kwapa, said: “It is not true that the Department of Transport does not want to give permits.
“Applications for scholar transport operating licences are adjudicated and decided upon by the Limpopo Provincial Regulatory Entity. There is no guarantee that an operating licence shall be granted upon application. The Limpopo Provincial Regulatory Entity will assess the demand and the supply of public transport services in the area of application to determine whether there is a demand for such service”.
He explained the processing period of a scholar transport operating licence is 90 days, however, the process may take longer in case of objections by other interested parties and or failure by an applicant to submit additional information and or documents requested by the Limpopo Provincial Regulatory Entity.
Seshego Polokwane Taxi Association (SPTA) Secretary, Thipe Sethosa, refuted the allegations of the scholar transport operator.
“As SPTA we work with passenger transportation in general. We don’t discriminate. We transport the elderly, learners and working professionals because that is our mandate. We don’t steal passengers from any operator and I think the person’s claims are baseless and unfounded,” Sethosa said.
vella@nmgroup.co.za
