The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) approached the Western Cape High Court on Friday, to obtain an urgent interdict against the Congress of Democratic Taxi Associations (CODETA).
The taxi association has allegedly imposed an illegal
blockade that prevented scholar transport from taking children in Khayelitsha
and surrounding areas to school.
Thousands of learners have missed school as a result. Western
cape Education MEC, David Maynier said over 3 200 children were affected by the
blockade on Friday.
“The Court recognised the urgency of the matter. Codeta has
backed down and agreed to an interim arrangement whereby they will suspend
their illegal blockade of our Learner Transport Scheme operators, until such
time as the matter can be heard before the Court.
“This is a binding commitment before the Court, and any
breach of the agreement would be considered to be in contempt.’’
Maynier says he has laid a criminal complaint with the
South African Police Service (SAPS) against the minibus taxi associations
‘’I provided a variety of evidence to them, including the
statement issued by Codeta, which announces the hijacking of our Learner
Transport Scheme routes. I also provided the media comments by various taxi
association representatives, and photos of children hiding in the footwells of
vehicles to escape the notice of criminals and thugs.’’
‘’The SAPS has committed to stepping up their operations to
bring an end to the harassment of our contracted drivers. Our position remains
unchanged: The Western Cape Education Department will not meet with any minibus
taxi association until they unconditionally end the blockade and stop
terrorising our children and our parents.’’
Done by: Mitchum George
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