Students protest over inefficient shuttle service

© Marek Uliasz – 123RF.com

When the buses and taxis that take students to and from classes ran, they claimed, they were late and skipped some stops - leaving many students stranded.

Shuttles from areas like Missionvale and Uitenhage are scheduled for 6am, 8am and 10am. Later runs are at 1.30pm, 3.30pm and 5.30pm and 8pm, and the last one at 10pm.

Between north and south campuses, buses and taxis run every 15 minutes. During examinations, the last shuttle service is at noon.

The students want the shuttles to run more frequently.

DA MP Yusuf Cassim, the DA Youth leader, led about 250 students on a march yesterday to deliver a memorandum calling for improvement in shuttle services.

The students also claimed that shuttle service drivers were rude and assaulted them.

However, the Port Elizabeth and Districts Taxi Association (PEDTA), which provides the shuttle service, denied these allegations.

PEDTA Chairman Sandi Mbona said: "Nothing of that sort has ever been reported to [our] complaints office."

Cassim, addressing the students in front of the Embizweni Building, said R5-million was needed to make the shuttle service efficient.

"The university must also take a stand against service providers. They cannot threaten us with violence."

He said university-sanctioned private taxi operators were charging students exorbitant tariffs.

Most students must pay a fixed monthly amount, while those with National Student Financial Aid Scheme bursaries have transport passes.

Blunden Coaches bus owner Shaidi Blunden said no students had laid complaints.

"I will not tolerate bad behaviour and assaulting students. I will be the first one to lay a charge against a driver."

NMMU Deputy Vice-Chancellor Dr Sibongile Muthwa, who received the memorandum, encouraged students to report unprofessional behaviour by drivers. The institution would cut the service if the allegations were true.

"DASO-aligned students at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University want the institution to pump R5-million more towards shuttle services, claiming students often missed tests because of inefficient transportation.

They claimed when the buses and taxis that transport students to and from classes showed up, they were late and skipped some stops - leaving scores of students stranded.

The shuttle services from areas like Missionvale and Uitenhage start transporting students from 6am, 8am and 10am.

There are also services between 1:30pm, 3:30pm and 5:30pm, 8pm and the last one at 10pm.

Between north and south campuses, buses and taxis run every 15 minutes. During examinations the last shuttle service is at 12am.

The students want the shuttle to run more frequently.

DA MP and DA Youth interim leader Yusuf Cassim led about 250 students on a march to hand over a memorandum demanding an improvement in shuttle services.

The students also alleged that shuttle services drivers were rude and assaulted them.

However, the Port Elizabeth and Districts Taxi Association (PEDTA) which provide the shuttle services denied the assault allegations.

Addressing the students in front of the Embizweni Building, Cassim said R5-million was needed to make the shuttle services efficient.

"The university must inject R5-million more into shuttle services. The institution must not only inject more funds into shuttle services but it must also take a stand against service providers.

"They cannot threaten us with violence. We will not take that lying down. We can no longer allow the taxi association to hold us and this institution at ransom," he said.

Cassim said university sanctioned private taxi operators were charging students exorbitant prices.

Students have to pay a fixed amount per month while those who have National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas) get passes to use for transportation.

Daso SRC President Hlomela Bucwa said the march was not an electioneering event as students shuttle services were often overloaded and sometimes students missed classes and tests because of inefficient transportation.

Mbona: "That is the first time I have heard of that. We have a complaints office and nothing of that sort has ever been reported to the association. We take the allegation very seriously and encourage students and passengers to report such."

Blunden Coaches bus owner Shaidi Blunden said: "I have heard the rumour but I have asked these students to come forward and lay a charge but no one has and it has been two weeks now.

"I will not tolerate bad behaviour and assaulting students. I will be the first one to lay a charge against a driver."

The issue of the taxis is like the elephant in the room

Muthwa who received the memorandum encouraged students to report unprofessional behaviour by drivers, saying the institution would terminate the service contract if the allegations were true.

"The issue of the taxis is like the elephant in the room. If there are allegations of assault, there are processes to follow. Please write down the time and date and the number plate of the shuttle," she said while the students protested against that with moaning.

"We want to urge students to come forward and report alleged unprofessional behaviour by drivers.

"We have a service level agreement with the taxis and buses with an exit clause so come forward."

Muthwa said Vice-Chancellor Derrick Swartz and his management team was serious about improving shuttle services and students' conditions in general.