Editor – The DA unequivocally condemns the blockading of roads into Ladysmith and the burning of buses this morning (Monday) and last night. These actions are a direct consequence of the unprecedented banning of all minibus taxis of members of taxi associations.
These are the negative consequences that the DA warned about in December.
In December, the DA warned that the unilateral banning of all local minibus taxis was not the answer to the violence and murders associated with some taxi operators. This action has brought hardship on all the commuters into Ladysmith and the Alfred Duma Municipality in general.
This hardship has been made worse by the negative impact on the economy of the area and the consequent impact on the poor.
The timing of the blockade has clearly been planned to coincide with the gearing up of businesses after the holiday period, as well as with the opening of schools for the 2018 year. The taxi industry plays a vital part in transporting commuters to and from their homes, schools and places of work.
This industry is an integral part of the economy of Alfred Duma Municipality and facilitates the few jobs that are available to our people in an economy that has been all but destroyed by the destructive policies of the ANC. The few buses arranged by the ANC to transport commuters simply did not meet the needs of our people.
The high-handed step to ban all taxis associated with two taxi associations in Alfred Duma, taken by KZN MEC of Transport Mxolisi Kaunda, has now backfired, as we warned that it inevitably would do.
A blanket ban on the hundreds of taxi operators and drivers who are associated with these two taxi associations is clearly unwarranted punishment of innocent operators and drivers who have had absolutely no participation in any violence at all.
To make matters worse, the police authorities last week started stopping private motorists using their bakkies to transport desperate commuters. While road safety is essential, it is somewhat surprising that despite months having passed, it seems that the police have as yet not charged anyone with the reported 71 deaths apparently associated with taxi violence. Surely that must be their focus.
Despite a month having passed since I wrote to the Minister of Police, Fikile Mbalula, to request details of the action that the SAPS have and are taking in the Alfred Duma Municipality to arrest and charge all the persons involved in the violence and murders apparently resulting from rivalry in the taxi industry in the municipality, I have not even had an acknowledgement of receipt.
Even if Mbalula has been on holiday in Dubai, the situation is so serious that he should have given the matter his full attention.
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