On Tuesday, 01 November 2022, Strategic Taxi Industry Transformation (SANTACO), a taxi association in Eastern Cape, Qonce halted all services due to the government not paying taxi operators. This has however affected a number of travelers including matric learners who weren’t able to write their exams on Tuesday.
Some pupils were left stranded and resorted to hitch- hike after 9am because of the issues surrounding scholar transports.
Reports state that these taxi operators and scholar transporters haven’t been paid since the month of October and demand payment from the department of transport as daily strugglers to continue working increase for them. These challenges included fuel, bank payments and basic needed of these operators.
SANTACO member commented on the main grievances they have as taxi operators.
“The main grievances for the operators or SANTACO in the province is that the department does not pay operators, for example in October we should be paid the proof of deliveries and invoices that we have submitted in September but we haven’t been paid. We are now in November and we haven’t been paid, in November we expect the money for October”, he said.
He mentioned that there are other operators that haven’t been paid for other months. He continues to show his heartfelt sentiments on the treatment they have been receiving as taxi operators from the department stating that they are not treated fair and “right”.
“The relationship between SANTACO and the department has been strained due to non-payment to operators”.
A meeting that was held amongst these operators on Monday, 31st October 2022, concluded with the operators taking action and not ferry any pupils/ learners until the department signals when these operators will get what’s due to them.
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