Transport dispute alleviated

Endumeni Municipality has diminished ‘possible threats’ that could have disrputed the transportation of scholars when the schools re-opened last month. Their attempts to end the dispute between Dundee Transport Association (DTA) and Endumeni Scholar Transport Club (ESTC) has produced positive results.
In a meeting held at the municipality on January 29, the two parties agreed to work together and make sure that peace is maintained regarding the transportation of scholars.
This they will do by firstly obtaining a list of all the local scholar transporters which is to be compiled by the ESTC, while the ESTC awaits the approval of their operating licences from the Department of Transport. Work continues as normal.
It must be noted that there was a misunderstanding between the two operators and the parents regarding a December advertisement placed on DTA’s taxis where it stated that DTA “will be transporting scholars when the schools re-open.”
This advert did not only anger the ESTC members, but parents as well. It is because of this that a meeting was called on January 20 to discuss what was to happen on the Wednesday that the schools reopened.
In that meeting it was concluded that the two operations will work as ‘normal’ until a solution is reached.
The Endumeni Municipality’s intervention came as a result of people fearing the worst, such as what is happening in areas like Newcastle and Durban, where in-fighting in the taxi industry continues resulting in a number of innocent people being killed.
The second meeting held on January 29 was another way of clearing the air and further assisting in helping out with the rules and regulations from relevant stake-holders as to helping come up with a better solution to the issue at hand. It was attended by the Department of Education, Department of Transport, parents’ representatives, Endumeni Speaker S Mdluli, Councillors, D Ncala and L Mbhele, as well as Endumeni Mayor, T Mahaye. The two departments further explained the National Scholar Transport Act and what exactly it entails. They also mentioned the requirements needed for one to be able to operate as a scholar transporter.
While the departments committed themselves to working effectively with the two operators, speaker Mdluli said that all that is needed to be done is to regulate the laws within the transportation of scholars.
He further stated that these meetings are the first steps in making sure that the transportation of scholars in the area of Endumeni runs smoothly.