The Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane together MEC for Transport Xolile Nqatha convened a meeting with the taxi industry players including SANTACO and Contractors Friday and Saturday. The meetings discussed a number of issues including the non-payment of scholar transport operators and the coming scholar transport tender commencing from the 1st of April 2023.
In the meetings government through the MEC for Transport announced that operators will be paid early next week and delays for payment as a result of non-availability of funds is deeply regretted. All parties have committed to safeguard access to education and government also emphased that any “shutdown ” would be illegal and totally discouraged in favour of measures that do not infringe the rights of other citizens .
As a contribution to find solution to any areas of concern, the MEC has directed the HOD of Transport to extend the current scholar transport tender by 3 months and convene the Scholar Transport Steering Committee meeting. Once this process is completed an addendum will be issued as it relates to the new contract that has been advertised.
MEC Nqatha said: “I urge the industry players to report areas of concern and desist from taking the law into their own hands including the holding of roadblocks and stopping of vehicles, this work can only be done by legally authorized officers like police and traffic officials.”
