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Durban — Santaco has replied to a public notice issued earlier this month by Klipriver Scholar Transport in Ladysmith, which sparked confusion and concern among parents, motorists, and social media users, after it appeared to threaten action against private vehicles transporting schoolchildren.

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The letter, dated 5 August 2025 and signed by representatives of the Klipriver Scholar Transport office, instructed school principals to ensure that pupils were not transported in “illegal private cars.” It warned that from 11 August, no small car would be allowed to carry learners, and that anyone caught doing so would face arrest.

The notice, bearing the Klipriver Scholar Transport stamp, has been widely circulated on social media, drawing sharp reactions from parents who rely on private arrangements to get children to school. Many questioned whether the organisation had the legal authority to enforce such measures.

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MEC’s Office: “It is illegal to pull passengers from cars.”

Responding to media queries on Sunday, the spokesperson for the MEC of Transport and Human Settlements, Ndabezinhle Sibiya, stressed that it is unlawful for any individual or group to stop cars, pull out passengers, or force them to use taxis.

“This matter was previously discussed at a meeting convened by MEC Siboniso Duma with Lt General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO). The Provincial Regulatory Entity (PRE), working closely with the police, has been mandated to monitor such issues,” Sibiya said.

The PRE is the statutory body responsible for monitoring and regulating public transport operations under the National Land Transport Act, including issuing operating licenses.

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SANTACO Distances Itself

Meanwhile, SANTACO KZN has strongly denied any involvement in enforcing restrictions on private cars. In a statement issued on 17 August 2025, the taxi council described the claims as “completely false” and said they had “no basis.”

“SANTACO is not a law enforcement agency and does not have the authority to impose or enforce regulations on private vehicles or motorists,” the statement read. The council urged the public to avoid spreading unverified information that could cause unnecessary panic.

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Community Concerns Remain

Despite the denials, parents and community members remain uneasy, pointing to incidents and messages circulating on social platforms suggesting that motorists transporting learners had been intimidated.

The conflicting messages — an official-looking letter from Klipriver Scholar Transport, a government warning that such actions are illegal, and a categorical denial from SANTACO — have deepened uncertainty over who is responsible for enforcing order on the roads.

For now, officials insist that only police and the PRE have the mandate to regulate transport operations, and that parents should not be threatened or criminalized for using private cars to transport children.

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