Combi drivers angry as Municipality ‘pulls’ rank

THE body representing long-distance Combi transporters plying their trade between Windhoek and the North is unhappy with the City of Windhoek’s plan to move them from the Hereford taxi rank.

Mateus Kalla, the Secretary of the northbound long-distance bus committee of the Namibia Bus and Taxis Association (Nabta), said he had received a letter from the municipality’s bus services manager, Clarence Rupingena, telling him the loading zone was to be relocated to the Monte Christo filling station, just across the road. Kalla complained that Nabta was not consulted.He said the mini bus owners did not want to operate from someone’s private property and were also unhappy with the way fees were collected from them by a municipal official.The committee said the official had intimidated them and forced them to pay a N$70 fee for using the loading zone.But Kalla said that, in a meeting held with the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the City of Windhoek, it emerged that he and other senior officials were unaware of these fees.The committee also accused some municipal officials of causing division among bus drivers and their employers.The City’s Public Relations Officer, Ipupa Davids, said it was true the committee had not been consulted because it was a subcommitee and Nabta was the mother body, so only Nabta had been consulted.She dismissed allegations that municipal officials were pocketing fees collected at the bus rank.Davids said a services provider contracted by the City to manage the rank collected these fees and deposited them at the nearest municipal office for safekeeping every day, except on weekends and holidays.Ipupa also said the City had not received any complaints about a municipal official causing division between bus drivers and owners.”One needs to point out that this matter is being politicised for the benefit of a few individuals.Consultation took place with Nabta and the City,” she claimed.Kalla complained that Nabta was not consulted.He said the mini bus owners did not want to operate from someone’s private property and were also unhappy with the way fees were collected from them by a municipal official.The committee said the official had intimidated them and forced them to pay a N$70 fee for using the loading zone.But Kalla said that, in a meeting held with the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the City of Windhoek, it emerged that he and other senior officials were unaware of these fees.The committee also accused some municipal officials of causing division among bus drivers and their employers.The City’s Public Relations Officer, Ipupa Davids, said it was true the committee had not been consulted because it was a subcommitee and Nabta was the mother body, so only Nabta had been consulted.She dismissed allegations that municipal officials were pocketing fees collected at the bus rank.Davids said a services provider contracted by the City to manage the rank collected these fees and deposited them at the nearest municipal office for safekeeping every day, except on weekends and holidays.Ipupa also said the City had not received any complaints about a municipal official causing division between bus drivers and owners.”One needs to point out that this matter is being politicised for the benefit of a few individuals.Consultation took place with Nabta and the City,” she claimed.