Teachers in Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, have been warned by a local taxi association to stop transporting pupils in their private vehicles or face the risk of their cars being “impounded”.
The warning, circulated in a notice by the Klipriver Scholar Transport group affiliated with the Klipriver Taxi Association, has drawn responses from parents, teachers, unions, and authorities, as well as the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO).
This development has raised questions about the legality of such directives, the safety of learners, and the rights of educators and parents to choose how children are transported.
The notice, which came into effect on 11 August 2025, stated that any teacher transporting pupils in a private car would have their vehicle seized. It argued that taxis were available for transporting learners and that private vehicles should not be used. However, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport rejected the notice, emphasising that only law enforcement agencies have the authority to regulate transport under the National Land Transport Act.
Officials emphasised that taxi associations do not have the authority to determine how individuals travel or to force parents and teachers to use a particular form of transport.
Furthermore, the National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa) criticised the notice, stating that it limited parental choice and posed safety concerns. The union highlighted that many teachers drive with their own children when going to school, making the directive impractical. Furthermore, Naptosa warned that such threats could provoke conflict within communities and potentially escalate into violence, citing a recent incident in Pimville, Gauteng, where an e-hailing driver was killed following tensions between different transport providers.
Following the circulation of the notice, SANTACO addressed reports suggesting that the council itself was behind the directive.
SANTACO’s KwaZulu-Natal leadership described these claims as misleading and stressed that the organisation had not issued any ban on lift clubs, teachers, or private vehicles.
The entity emphasised that reports attributing the directive to SANTACO were false and risked causing confusion among the public.
In an official media statement issued on 17 August 2025, SANTACO clarified its position in detail. The council said: “We wish to place it on record that SANTACO has never issued such communication and has never imposed any mode of transport on the public. Any individual making such claims is not, and has never been, speaking on behalf of the Council. The Council strongly condemns these acts in the strongest terms.” The statement further explained that taxi use is entirely voluntary, noting: “Like all other paid-for transport services, taxi operations are voluntary and remain a choice available to commuters. We strongly urge members of the media to exercise caution and verify information with us before publishing reports of this nature. Publishing misleading information without affording SANTACO a right of reply misleads the public and damages trust in the sector.”
Furthermore, SANTACO underlined that only government authorities can enforce transport regulations, stating: “For clarity, only law enforcement authorities hold the legal mandate to enforce regulations relating to transport in South Africa. We encourage members of the public to report any incidents of harassment or unlawful enforcement directly to law enforcement agencies.”
Adding to his, SANTACO KwaZulu-Natal reiterated that the council has no authority to restrict private vehicle use and urged both the media and the public not to circulate information that could inflame tensions.
The organisation also highlighted the importance of distinguishing local disputes involving individual taxi associations from official directives issued at provincial or national level.
In conclusion, the Klipriver Scholar Transport notice has highlighted tensions between local taxi associations, educators, and parents, while the positions of both the Department of Transport and SANTACO have clarified the limits of authority in transport regulation. The incident underscores the need for clear communication and adherence to lawful processes to ensure that community transport arrangements remain safe, practical, and free from intimidation.
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Be sure to read, From Ladysmith to Durban: Zero Tolerance in Force as 77 Arrested for Drunk Driving, if you missed it.
