Taxi operators accused of intimidating Mandeni carpoolers

Tensions ran high in Isithebe recently when taxi operators allegedly intimidated motorists suspected of running lift clubs. 

Last week a motorist, who did not wish to be named for fear of intimidation, told the Courier he was driving to work at the Isithebe Industrial Park with 3 colleagues when he was stopped by a group of men.

He said one of the men, who was armed, forced him to get out of the car and told him he was not allowed to carry passengers as he did not have a “permit”.

“They said the car was for me and my family and I should pay a R5 000 fine.

“They even tried to force me to drive to an ATM to get the payment. I was able to negotiate R500 and he agreed to take it, warning me to never car pool.”

According to numerous witness accounts the alleged taxi industry operators were accusing motorists who share lifts to work of stealing their customers and undermining their business.

“We all work at the same place and we rotate weekly with our lift club.

“Catching a taxi is not an option during this pandemic and we choose to use our private cars as it is faster and more convenient for us.

“It is our constitutional right to use whatever private vehicle we choose but now we are being threatened and harassed by taxi operators who try to intimidate and victimise us for opting to use our own cars in lift clubs rather than the taxis.”

In the same week another motorist was also stopped in the illegal road block.

A man broke his window, demanding that all the passengers exit the vehicle. 

“We managed to drive off but we are all shaken by this incident. We share a lift club to work because we cannot afford to drive on our own each day.

“Carpooling is economical for all of us and a great way to cut the cost of commuting to work. We are now so scared of being targeted by these operators who do not have any hesitation to use force,” he said. 

According to Steve Fox from Mandeni’s Business Against Crime (BAC), Saps from the Pietermaritzburg Taxi Violence Unit were deployed after the reported cases and since then no further incidents have been reported.

SA National Taxi Council (Santaco) provincial manager Sifiso Shangase condemned the behaviour and said no one should be allowed to pull over vehicles other than those delegated the authority. 

“All road users have a constitutional right to use whatever modes of transport they choose without being harassed or victimised, especially if they live far away.”

However, Shangase cautioned motorists from picking up hitchhikers near taxi ranks as it created a volatile situation and undermined the taxi’s business. 

Shangase said all incidents needed to be reported to the police.

Despite the Mandeni taxi association being the only association operating in Isithebe, chairperson Bheki Masango denied his association’s involvement in the intimidation and distanced themselves from the recent events.