Taxi strike: MEC urges parents to plan ahead
“It is unfortunate the protest was planned for during the school exam season.”
Gauteng education MEC Panyaza Lesufi has urged parents to make the necessary plans to ensure their children get to the exam centres on Wednesday in spite of the taxi industry strike.
Lesufi said the National Taxi Alliance (NTA) had confirmed the national taxi strike would proceed as planned.
“We urge parents in Gauteng to take precaution and prioritise their children’s safety due to the strike.”
He said his department would not penalise candidates sitting for tomorrow exam for something that was beyond their control.
“All chief invigilators will assist and afford all Grade 12 learners who might arrive late an opportunity to write their final exam accordingly.
“The department will invoke necessary prescripts for all those learners who might not make it to the exam. Invigilators will also use their discretion, to accommodate learners to write at alternative centres.”
ALSO READ: UPDATE: Pta taxi strike flops
On Monday, NTA spokesperson Theo Malele said his members were protesting to bring attention to their grievances with the government.
Malele said transport minister Joe Maswanganyi had failed to show up at a follow-up meeting with the alliance despite undertaking to do so a week earlier on 16 October.
“He didn’t honour his word,” he said.
Tshwane metro police said protesters would assemble at the old Putco depot in Marabastad at 9:00 then march to the department of transport on the corner of Struben and Bosman streets to hand over a memorandum at noon.
“From there they will proceed to the Union Buildings where they will hand over a second memorandum by 13:00,” metro police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Isaac Mahamba said.
ALSO READ: UPDATE: Santaco distances itself from taxi strike
Lesufi said it was unfortunate such a protest had been organised during the school exam season.
“All our grade 12 learners should be preoccupied with preparations, and excelling in their work and not worried about any other activity that is derailing their efforts and focus thereof.”
https://twitter.com/Scubakae1/status/927771384230612994
So tmrw it's a holiday 😅😅 #TaxiStrike pic.twitter.com/KxRVzy1Tku
— Mhana Zwothe🌼 (@Vukousie) November 7, 2017
Could the Matrics be allowed to pass, we'll even wear our pull overs if we have to. But we really need to write this exam.#TaxiStrike
— Lerato (@7erato) November 7, 2017
https://twitter.com/Mtamerri/status/927770715012595712
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