Newlands East parents dropping their kids at school. Clash is looming between them and taxis. Picture: Supplied
Durban — Tension is brewing between scholar transport operators and parents using their private vehicles to transport their children to schools in Newlands East, north of Durban.
The stand-off was sparked by the Newlands East Taxi Association which took a resolution that private vehicles would no longer be allowed to ferry kids to schools.
The association met at the weekend and issued a public notice, giving parents till the end of the month to arrange with their taxis to take their children to schools.
Concerned parents who spoke to the Daily News expressed shock and disappointment at the decision.
They said it would be unfair to stop them from transporting their children since they were concerned about the safety of their children in the taxis.
The parents appealed for an intervention, saying they would not stop taking their kids to school because of taxi people who thought they owned the public roads.
“This matter must be addressed by the provincial transport authorities, particularly the provincial taxi council because taxis do not own public roads.
“We as parents have a right to transport our own children without being disturbed by anyone. No one except the police has a right to pull me off the road and search my car,” said an angry parent.
The notice posted on the local WhatsApp group reads: “Good Day. According to the Netas general meeting held today, 3 August 2024, the decision taken is that no private vehicles are to transport scholars to or from Newlands East or New Dawn Park. This practice must stop on 31 August 2024. Should you require transport for the above purpose, you are invited to contact Neta members individually.”
One of the taxi owners, only known as Kevin, defended the association’s decision, saying the resolution was necessary to control the influx of illegal operators who were taking businesses from them as legal operators, claiming to be parents.
He said the association was not against parents taking their children to school but wanted to root out illegal operators using private vehicles.
He said the association was aware that parents were being misled by these illegal operators who wanted to create confusion and sow division between the taxi association and parents.
“We know who we are talking about. It’s not parents. There is nothing wrong with taking your kids to school and no one will prevent parents from transporting their kids to school,” said Kevin.
However, he warned parents to stop creating lift clubs and to only take their own children. The problem starts when parents load neighbours’ kids to take them to school and charge money, he said. Because that will mean competing with the taxis which hold permits while parents have no authority to do that.
One of the parents said they had a problem with what Kevin was saying because sometimes they as neighbours make arrangements where this week one parent will use her or his car to transport the kids to school and the following week it is another neighbour. She said this should not be regarded as operating scholar transport.
SA National Taxi Council spokesperson in KwaZulu-Natal, Sifiso Shangase, said parents have a right to create lift clubs as long as there is no financial gain involved.
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Daily News