No permits lead to frustrated taxi owners

Taxi owners who transport children from their homes to school were frustrated when law enforcement started issuing fines.

On Wednesday, September 16 over a dozen taxi owners were pulled off in Springbok Street by traffic officers and fines were issued.

Angry taxi owners who were fined for driving children around without a permit on Wednesday, September 16 in Springbok Street.

The taxi drivers received fines up to R2 500 because they don’t have permits for transporting children.
Many of these taxi owners have applied for these permits over a year ago and they are still waiting for their permits.

An applications for this permit costs R300 and owners of mini buses have been waiting over year for their permits.

“I cannot understand why it is taking so long for these permits to be issued. Our vehicles are roadworthy, but yet we still get fined,” said one taxi owner who would like to remain anonymous.

It’s alleged that another reason why the permits won’t be issued to certain mini bus owners is because their vehicles are more than 10 years old.

“If law enforcement and traffic pulls us over again because we don’t have our permits yet, we will leave the children with them and tell them it’s their responsibility to get the children to school and back home again,” continued the driver.

As the minibus driver continued to explain his frustrations, he made it very clear that the only reason they transport the children is to make an honest living for their families and children.

“At least we have managed to get our Public Drivers Permit (PDP), but it’s not enough as we need a special permit to transport children and this is all according to our government,” said the angry driver.

He further explained that at least the minibus owners that are providing a service transporting children to school and back home and are not stealing or selling drugs to make a living.

Watch the video here about the disgruntled workers: