Taxi war brewing

TAXI operators belonging to the Ritchie Modderrivier Taxi Association have warned of possible taxi violence after taxis from Kimberley were contracted to transport pupils from Ritchie to Mokala National Park.

Ritchie Modderrivier Taxi Association (RMTA) members said yesterday that they intended to prevent Kimberley taxi operators from loading local passengers in the future.

“The school principal had to calm down tempers and intervene to prevent the taxi operators from engaging in a physical fight outside the school this (yesterday) morning. The Kimberley taxis were eventually permitted to load the pupils but we will not allow it again.”

An operator from RMTA stated that it was about a 40-kilometre drive from Ritchie to Mokala National Park.

“Kimberley operators have to travel an additional 30 kilometres to collect the pupils from Ritchie before they drive to Mokala Park, at an additional cost. They are stealing the food out of our mouths.”

Members of the RMTA are aggrieved that they were not considered to transport the pupils from Pelindaba Laerskool and Laerskool Rietrivier in Ritchie to the national park.

“The tender is estimated to be worth in the region of R40 000, where 60 pupils are being transported each week to Mokala Park, over the next month.

“We followed the taxis from Kimberley when we saw them passing the taxi rank in Ritchie yesterday and found them loading passengers at the two schools. It is unfair because there are 30 taxis operating in the Ritchie area who are being denied work opportunities. ”

Operators from the RMTA intend on driving their taxis to the offices of the MEC for Education to protest the awarding of the tender to Kimberley operators.

The spokesperson for the Northern Cape Department of Education, Geoffrey van der Merwe, indicated that Mokala National Park was responsible for the transportation of pupils and teachers. “Mokala Park also provides accommodation for an overnight stay at the park.

“The Northern Cape Department of Education is aware of the initiative that Mokala Park presents from time to time, targeting communities and schools ‘bordering’ the park. As the department we support their initiative, which offers our pupils and educators exposure to our parks and environment,” said Van der Merwe.

Mokala National Park has yet to respond to media enquiries.