Taxi drivers who transport learners to and from school have blocked major Eastern Cape roads, protesting that they still have not been paid by the provincial transport department.
The scholar transport programme got off to a bad start earlier this year, with learners left stranded and missing out on the first few weeks of the school year because the department hadn’t paid the taxi drivers since November last year.
At the time, Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane promised that an additional R90-million would be made available to cover outstanding payments.
Marshall von Buchenroder, the DA shadow MEC for roads and transport, said the shutdown could have been avoided if Mabuyane had kept his promise.
“It is clear from today’s actions by operators that the premier lied and that the rot within the scholar transport programme is nowhere near being resolved,” von Buchenroder said.
The provincial transport department admitted that there have been some delays in making the payments.
Spokesperson Unathi Binqose said the challenge was not with the unavailability of funds, but rather technical challenges that the department continues to tackle.
“While the department takes a degree of responsibility for the delay, some of it was caused by the boycott of the signing of contracts by some operators when they were called to do so back in January and February,” he said.
Binqose said some of the issues have to do with compliance with SARS.
He said the department had intended to make the next round of payments amounting to R5.9-million by Friday 3 May with the last run scheduled for 15 May.
The department confirmed that there are road closures across the province, with certain parts of the N2 closed between East London and Mthatha, as well as between Grahamstown and King Williamstown.
“We urge the general public to rather be on the side of caution if they can delay their travels,” Binqose said.
While no violence has been reported, police are on high alert throughout the province.
Pictured above: Traffic flow affected by scholar transport strike action in various parts of the Eastern Cape.
Image source: Supplied
