WATCH: Scholar transporters targeted by extortionists
Chairperson of the Montclair CPF, Shawn Smith, said CPF members, police and local security company, Kings Protection, have been closely monitoring the situation and will continue to do so, to ensure the safety of learners, parents and transporters.
WORKING together to rid the community of opportunists who have been preying on transporters of children in secondary schools in the Montclair area, CPF members, police and community leaders continue to monitor the situation.
According to transporters of scholars at Mowat Park and New Forest secondary schools, who wish to remain anonymous for fear of their safety, men who identified themselves as South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) officials were armed with guns and approached and intimidated them.
Transporters were told that they were not allowed to transport high school children because they were old enough to take a taxi to school.
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Ward councillor for the area, Gavin Hegter, said he had been liaising with the chairperson of the Yellowwood Park Taxi Association and the situation was being monitored.
“The Yellowwood Park Taxi Association gets directive from Santaco, the national body. All scholar transport services have to fall under Santaco. There was a problem before, but it was resolved with authorities. Now, it has reared its head again. I was advised that the people harassing transporters were not from the local taxi association.
“The Yellowwood Park Taxi Association is engaged in talks with Santaco to find out what is going on, but it looks like it is opportunists using the association’s name to try and extort money.
“At this stage, there is engagement with Montclair police and Montclair CPF, who are working together to stop any further incidents. The taxi association has assured me that they do not condone this and have also deployed members to the affected schools to monitor the situation with police and CPF members,” said Hegter.
Chairperson of the Montclair CPF, Shawn Smith, said CPF members, police and local security company, Kings Protection, have been closely monitoring the situation and will continue to do so, to ensure the safety of learners, parents and transporters.
A comment from the Yellowwood Park Taxi Association could not be obtained at the time of going to print. A comment will be published once it becomes available.
WATCH: Montclair CPF PRO, Scott Morley, stands watch outside Mowat Park Secondary School.
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