No degree of success in UMP negotiations with taxi associations

No agreement was reached between the University of Mpumalanga (UMP) and taxi associations, as the negotiations were disrupted by uninvited guests.

What was meant to be a peaceful meeting last week between the management of UMP, student accommodation providers and representatives of Topstar and KaBokweni taxi associations, did not end well, as taxi operators disrupted the proceedings.

READ: Taxi associations demand to conduct transport services to UMP

The dean of students affairs, Dr Paul Maminza, said, “They told us they wanted to transport students who are staying in accredited private accommodation facilities to and from the university, and that the university must pay them for the service.

“We explained that the university does not pay for students. We also explained that one of the criteria for accrediting the accommodation facilities is for the facilities to be able to arrange transport for the students. We then agreed to invite the accommodation providers to the meeting so that the associations and the accommodation providers can discuss and see how to work together. After the accommodation facilities explained their work and how they transport students, the associations still argued that they wanted to transport the students and that the university must pay them for that. A group of taxi people stormed the venue and disrupted the meeting. No decisions or resolutions were agreed upon.”

READ: Taxi associations protest, demand to transport students

This meeting followed a couple of days of taxi operators blockading routes to the university, demanding to provide transportation services for students to and from their accommodation service to the institution. John Mavundla, the chairperson of Topstar Taxi Association, said processes of engaging the university about this request was still on.

“We also want to benefit from this university through transporting students because we have public permits on these routes.”