Taxis go up in flames when taxi associations clash in Mpumalanga

Two taxis were set alight when taxi violence erupted between Vukanini Taxi Association (Vukta) and Zamokuhle Taxi Association on Tuesday, 4 December, Ridge Times reports.

It is alleged that the violence is about operating routes.

Mr Fanyana Sibanyoni, Vukta chairman, is of the opinion that the Govan Mbeki Municipality incited the violence by giving Zamokuhle Taxi Association a taxi rank in their area of operation without consulting them.

In the first incident, a taxi of Zamokuhle Taxi Association was torched at Louwrence Muller Street, Secunda.

In the second, it is alleged that the taxi driver was coming from Zibulo Colliery where he dropped off staff members who were going to work.

He was using the Leandra/Ogies Road going to eMbalenhle.

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As the taxi was approaching the T- junction, he was stopped by a group of taxi drivers.

They instructed and escorted him in the opposite direction towards Leandra.

On the R29 at Norda Street they pulled him out of the taxi.

According to police, he was assaulted and robbed of R7 000 which was in his pocket.

While Vukanini Taxi Association blamed the municipality for this violence, Zamokuhle Taxi Association expressed their disappointment in the police.

Upon requesting feedback from Vukta, Mr Sibanyoni said the following:

“I distance myself and the association from the torching of the taxis.

“Vukta is not an association of hooligans. We are willing to work with the police to bring to book the perpetrators of this crime.

“However, we have noted that every time we near elections such incidents happen. This is because one of the leaders in Zamokuhle Taxi Association is a politician.

“He is using his position to push his political agenda. We have made attempts to have meetings with them to find a solution, but they do not respond.”

Mr Mandy Mahlangu, chairman of Zamokuhle Taxi Association, said his association obtained a court order permitting them to operate in the area without being intimidated by Vukta. He exclaimed that he was disappointed by the behavior of Vukta.

Mr Mahlangu alleged that drivers from Vukta intimidated and assaulted some members of his association.

“I am disappointed in the Secunda Police, especially Brig Sifiso Cele, as we forwarned him that this might happen, but no preparations were made.”

He also added that police officers did not help during the attack, but instead they kept following the Vukta drivers when they attacked his members in Leandra.

Mr Mahlangu also disputed that these incidents were politically influenced.

The media contacted Mr Benzi Soko, Chief of Staff of GMM, and he informed that Ms Ethel Nkosi, acting mayor, will schedule an internal meeting regarding the matter and will only thereafter be able to give comment.

The newspaper further contacted Cpt Bettina Zondo, police spokesman, however, she could not comment and referred the matter to Brig Cele.

Brigadier Cele did not answer his phone or SMS.

At the time of going to press, he still did not comment.