By Celani Sikhakhane
- Naptosa has condemned a Klipriver taxi group’s ban on teachers driving pupils, calling it dangerous and a threat to parental choice.
- The taxi association warned that from 11 August 2025 any teacher caught with a pupil in their car will have the vehicle impounded.
The National Professional Teachers Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa) is outraged by a new order from the Klipriver Taxi Owners Association’s school transport wing. Teachers have been told they can no longer transport pupils to school in their private cars or risk having their vehicles impounded.
The instruction was issued on 5 August 2025 and takes effect on 11 August 2025.
Naptosa’s Thirona Moodley says the rule is dangerous and could lead to violence similar to the Pimville case in Gauteng, where an e-hailing driver was burnt to death.
“First of all no parent should be made to choose which mode of transport should be used by Taxi owners. This is in fact taxi mafias. Most parents choose a safe transport that will take their kids to school safe. Law enforcement need to intervene on this matter. As Naptosa we are really shocked,” said Moodley.
She questioned how teachers are expected to leave their own children behind when they attend the same schools. Moodley says parents should be free to choose safe transport, not be forced into using taxis.
A circular from Klipriver Scholar Transport says teachers must stop taking children in their private cars because there is an official taxi scholar transport for the job.
“Any teacher as from 11 August 2025 who will be found with a school kid in the private vehicle, that car will be impounded, Thank you,” it states.
Klipriver Scholar Transport is part of the notorious Klipriver Taxi Association, once led by Bhekiyise Masondo, who was gunned down in Ladysmith. The group has a violent history, including a 2017 ambush on the N11 that killed five teachers on their way to school.
The violence once led to route suspensions by the KwaZulu-Natal transport department. The taxi association even took the department to court, suing for R100-million, and has previously blocked bus services in Ladysmith.
Pictured above: Thirona Moodley of the National Professional Teachers Organization of South Africa is furious and fears for the lives of teachers after Klipriver Scholar Transport banned them from taking kids to school with their private cars.
Image source: X/@Thirona
