Following the ongoing violent protest in the Western Cape as a result of taxis being impounded due to a municipal by-law, the Seshego-Polokwane Taxi Association (SPTA) in Limpopo staged a similar protest in Polokwane this morning after their vehicles were seized.

The SPTA says it is unfair that their taxis are being impounded for forming illegal sub-ranks when for years there have not been any consequences for taxis of the Moletjie Taxi Association (MTA) doing the same thing.

SPTA operators parked their vehicles in protest outside the Polokwane Traffic Department on Friday morning, blocking off parts of Vermikuliet and Witklip Streets.

The blockade, however, was swiftly cleared within half an hour of the start of the protest by traffic officials.

SPTA spokesperson Ally Mothiba says their taxis are confiscated randomly on the corner of Vermikuliet and Mika Street in Ladanna, which is a detour from their agreed upon route, between 05:00 and 08:00. Yet the same rule of law is not applied to the MTA taxis who also form a sub-rank on the corner of Market and Excelsior Street in the CBD.

“The Moletjie taxis have been transporting commuters for years and poach our customers but their vehicles are not impounded,” he says.

Polokwane Review reported that the silent conflict between the two associations turned violent last week when several SPTA drivers confronted those from MTA for apparently illegally transporting commuters on the township’s routes.

The MTA declined to comment on this morning’s blockade.

The spokesperson for the Polokwane Muncipality Thipa Selala committed to respond at a later stage.

The area has since been cleared.