PORT ELIZABETH - LECTURES BROUGHT TO A HALT DURING TAXI STANDOFF AT NMMU MISSIONVALE CAMPUS

Various reports suggest a standoff between the NMMU shuttle service and a local taxi association.

Nelson Mandela Metropole University ( NMMU ) released this statement via their website:

A Port Elizabeth taxi association operating in the Missionvale area yesterday disrupted the University’s student shuttle service and blockaded the entrance to NMMU’s Missionvale Campus, making it impossible for vehicles to access the campus.
The University took immediate action to engage the taxi association on the reasons behind the blockade. An agreement was reached in that meeting to unblock the entrance, while engagements between the taxi association and the University continued.

The University has requested that the taxi association formally table their requests for discussion at a follow-up meeting scheduled for Friday, 24 February 2017. The University sought and received assurance that there would be no further disruptions to student transport while the parties are engaging.

The University will prepare a more detailed and comprehensive statement following tomorrow’s meeting.

Heraldlive reported the following:

Lectures came to a halt at NMMU’s Missionvale Campus yesterday after taxi drivers from the Northern Areas Taxi Operators’ Association (Natoa) blocked all the gates, saying a transport company was poaching their route.

The association members have accused Blunden Coach Tours, which transports students from Summerstrand to and from the campus, of taking their business away.

Students walked around the campus idly while lecturers stood next to their cars. Police were also monitoring the situation.

“Lectures can’t happen today because it is not safe for us to leave our cars out in the street,” a member of a group of lecturers, who declined to be named, said.

“We have been standing out here for about two hours.”

NMMU management later met the association and it was agreed to open up the entrances while discussions on the issue will continue at a follow-up meeting.

A taxi driver, who declined to be named, said: “This is our route and we cannot allow Blunden to transport students to and from Summerstrand.”