Codeta backs down and suspends their blockade of learner transport
Statement by Minister David Maynier, Minister of Education Western Cape
Today I approached the Western Cape High Court to obtain an urgent interdict against the Congress of Democratic Taxi Associations (Codeta), preventing them from obstructing, interfering, and stopping the transporting of learners within the Western Cape.
I further asked the Court to interdict the taxi association and its members from issuing threats to our Learner Transport Scheme drivers, learners, and members of the public.
Over 3 200 children missed school today in Khayelitsha and surrounding areas as a result of the illegal blockade.
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.
Per the undertaking, Codeta and its members undertake not to:
| 6.1 | obstruct, interfere and stop the transporting of learners (including service providers of learner transport contracted by the Western Cape Education Department) within the Western Cape; and |
| 6.2 | issue threats to the applicants, service providers of learner transport (including service providers of learner transport contracted by the Western Cape Education Department), learners and members of the public to the effect that they (the respondent) will obstruct, interfere and stop the transporting of learners (including service providers of learner transport contracted by the Western Cape Education Department) within the Western Cape. |
In addition, I have laid a criminal complaint with the South African Police Service (SAPS) against the minibus taxi associations currently preventing our children from getting to school.
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.
Preventing children from attending school in order to extract contracts from the state is an infringement of our children’s Constitutional right to education, and the taxi associations are acting directly against our learners’ best interests.
They would immediately and unconditionally end their blockade if they cared at all about the wellbeing of our children.
Clearly, they don’t.
Media Enquiries:
Kerry Mauchline
Spokesperson to Minister David Maynier
Western Cape Ministry of Education
Kerry.Mauchline@westerncape.gov.za