Taxi association vows to protect Tshwane malls against looting
"We are not taking over from law enforcement or the job of the defence force, but we are merely standing in their absence."
The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) and affiliated taxi associations said they would help protect malls around Tshwane against rioters and looters during the current wave of unrest.
“This vandalism will not only destroy jobs, but will consequently affect the taxi industry business,” said chairman of Santaco in Tshwane, Abner Tsebe.
“It is therefore, in our interests to stand against this form of outrageous thuggery.”
On Tuesday, the taxi association leadership strongly warned any would-be looters “they will find the taxi industry waiting for them”.
Santaco national spokesperson Thabisho Molelekwa said the decision to protect the malls was taken against the reality that unless the looting stopped, people would lose their jobs.
Molelekwa said protecting the malls did not mean they would be abdicating their “natural responsibility”, which was to ferry people, in favour of assisting law enforcement.
“We will continue to ferry people uninterrupted to and from work without any intimidation and fear. The measures that we will be taking to protect these malls are varied, depending on the size of the mall and the complexity involving the nearby community.
“The first line of defence is to dispatch our patrol vehicles to monitor any suspicious elements. We are not taking over from law enforcement or the job of the defence force, but we are merely standing in their absence. Once they come in, we will definitely withdraw with the greatest pleasure.”
Molelekwa said this would continue until law enforcement had a firm grip on the province.
“The challenge that they are sitting with is that the minute they think they have dispersed these criminals, they regroup and strategise to find ways of penetrating these malls.”
Molelekwa said the looting and vandalism were having a serious impact on the economy that was already suffering.
“Any further strain on the economy like this vandalism would, therefore, create more problems. The cost that will be carried out because of this damage will come back to the taxpayer and those who do not work will suffer even more.”
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