IMPOUNDING of vehicles by members of any taxi association is against the law. This is according to the provincial spokesperson for the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco), Sphamandla Ndaba.

Ndaba made this statement as Clairwood residents raised concerns about a taxi association that allegedly requires private vehicles transporting schoolchildren to pay a R6000 registration fee in order to obtain a sticker permitting them to transport children from school to home.

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A Clairwood parent, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of victimisation by taxi operators, told the SUN that she has stopped transporting her children to school because she cannot afford the R6000 fee.

She claims that the taxi operators park along the freeway and check all the private cars that frequently travel along that route transporting children.

“We are concerned because parents are being threatened while transporting their children to school. My friend, who transports children to school, was forced to pay a R6000 joining fee to the association. We do not make much money from transporting children, so the association’s demand for this fee is unreasonable,” she said.

Ndaba explained that any person transporting children to and from school must be in possession of a valid operating licence.

Ndaba said the licence is issued by the KZN Department of Transport to the legitimate operators.

He said at times scholar transport operators need to be affiliated to the taxi industry.

“Anyone can apply for the licence through the Department of Transport, however the department checks with the regional office before an application can be processed. Because the people who are transporting children should be known and their details should be traceable,” said Ndaba.

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He admitted that there is a joining fee that new operators need to pay to the association, but could not be drawn into commenting about breaking the down the R6000 figure.

He said a joining fee is regulated by the taxi association and it varies from region to region. He emphasised that the fee is used to cover various operational needs such as the insurance for the car.

Some residents have previously complained that taxi drivers allegedly confiscate car keys and impound vehicles when they find people transporting schoolchildren without a sticker displaying the name of the association under which they operate.

According to Ndaba the impounding of vehicles and taking of keys is illegal.

“We encourage drivers whose vehicles have been impounded to report the incident to their nearest police station. As Santaco, we distance ourselves from such conduct. Instead, association members should be educating the public on how to apply for operating permits,” Ndaba added.

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