Taxi protest in Pretoria CBD streets “to clear our name”
Taxi associations took part in the protest that also highlighted the campaign against gender-based violence, drug usage and xenophobia in the city.
Hundreds of taxi operators held a motorcade demonstration through the streets of Pretoria on Tuesday, to “clear our name”.
The motorcade travelled from Marabastad to the CBD in protest against recent violence that took place in Pretoria and Sunnyside.
Taxi associations including Santaco, the NTA, Soshanguve, Hammanskraal, Ga-Rankuwa and Menlyn took part in the protest that also highlighted the campaign against gender-based violence, drug usage and xenophobia in the city.
Santaco Tshwane regional spokesperson Mack Makata said the motorcade demonstration “is all about the taxi industry wanting to clear its name”.
He said it was unfair that the taxi industry was known for creating havoc when it continually faced opportunists who took advantage of their actions or protests.
“When the police handed over their report on the recent violence in the city, it stated that the apprehended parties were community members and not any member of the taxi industry,” said Makata.
He said recently, the taxi association’s protest was hijacked by “unknown assailants” which led to shops being looted, foreigners’ homes burnt and other criminal activity.
Makata said the association was also holding the procession in the streets of Pretoria to show drug peddlers that they would still continue to fight the scourge in the CBD.
“We are saying ‘no’ to drugs, irrespective of nationality. As long as you are dealing with drugs, we don’t want that,” Makata said adding that the taxi operators were tired of drugs being peddled around various taxi ranks in the CBD.
“We don’t want drugs in our city, especially our ranks as that is our business premises.”
He said Tuesday’s action, was also to demonstrate to Tshwane residents that taxi operators were against vandals and criminals using their name to commit crimes.
“We want to clear our name. Not in our name as the taxi industry, as we don’t promote hooliganism, looting and xenophobic attacks.”
Makata said the industry, which was largely male-dominated, needed encouragement to protect women.
“Our brothers out there need to look after our mothers and sisters and not molest or rape them.”
Makata said the taxi industry would also be monitoring crimes around the CBD “and take action against such when it was picked up by drivers or commuters”.
“The monitoring teams from various associations will tackle these crimes following set protocols and ensuring that there is peace in the city,” he said.
Santaco Gauteng regional spokesperson Midday Mali said the taxi industry was tired of being cast in bad light.
“We are tired of being put in a space where we are seen as xenophobic. We are not like that as taxi operators and we don’t want to fight anybody.”
He said law enforcement agencies also had to start to deal with the drug issue in the city.
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