Taxi association apologises to community

Dolphin Coast Taxi Association (DCTA) members have apologised to the Driefontein community of surge of taxi violence that erupted in the area last week.

Yesterday DCTA spokesperson, Mdu Tony, told a packed Driefontein community hall that they deeply regretted their actions and hoped to have a healthy working relationship with their passengers.

“We now see that our arrival in Driefontein last week Monday could have handled better without any gunshots or disruption of people’s lives. We apologise and promise to do better from here on,” said Tony.

Hundreds of people from Driefontein could not get to work in Ballito on Monday due to the unrest. The cause of the violence was a dispute between the Dolphin Coast and the Tongaat taxi associations over the Driefontein to Ballito route.

Driefontein ward councillor, Mzwandile Mdluli said shots were fired between taxi bosses and their bodyguards at the Driefontein taxi rank on Monday but no one was injured.

Officials from the provincial department of transport and community safety held a meeting on Tuesday at the Victoria Market Farmers’ Association Hall in Umhlali to find a solution.

There was a heavy police presence at the meeting which included members of the feuding taxi associations and a representative from the transport department.

According to the transport department records, the route has always belonged to the DCTA. As from last Wednesday, Tongaat taxis were banned from using the Driefontein to Ballito Route.

Tony promised the Driefontein community that they are working towards making taxis to Ballito available throughout the day instead of having them only in the mornings and afternoon as the Tongaat Taxi Association previously had them.