Transport MEC promises action as taxi violence claims 59 lives
The Transport Department has threatened to shut down taxi ranks, revoke operating licenses and engage e-hailing and other sources of transport to fill in the taxi gaps should the violence persist.
Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela has pledged to take decisive action to address the escalating taxi violence and conflicts in the province that have resulted in 59 fatalities since the beginning of the year.
Diale-Tlabela committed to holding consultations and developing measures to resolve the crisis.
Since the start of the year there have been fights over routes and tensions between associations that have seen violence and killings in the province escalate.
The department has threatened to shut down taxi ranks, revoke operating licences and engage e-hailing operators and other sources to fill the taxi transport gap should the violence persist.
The MEC revealed these plans during the Gauteng Women in Public Transport engagement at the departmental Tshwane offices in Koedoespoort on Wednesday, April 9.
The engagement was meant to review and map the department’s planned interventions to curb the growing violence, explore ways to assist women with business operations and opportunities in the sector.
Recently in Mabopane, two taxi owners were killed in a hail of bullets, adding to the statistics of the people killed in taxi related violence.
Diale-Tlabela said the department has established a crisis committee to deal with the taxi violence.
“We have roped in national leadership and police to deal with this issue, and as a department we are calling for calm and the halting of the killings.”
She said the taxi associations that are at loggerheads must come to the table to resolve their issues through talks, not violence.
“As a department we only agree on solutions and discussions, not violence which affects innocent lives. Mothers are often left without husbands and breadwinners as this violence escalate.”
Diale-Tlabela strongly condemned the recent surge in taxi-related shootings and killings across the province.
“These acts are viewed as both senseless and deeply disturbing, posing a serious threat to the safety and well-being of our communities.”
She extended her deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who have lost their lives.
She added that no form of dispute or disagreement justified the use of violence and called on all parties within the taxi industry to act with restraint and responsibility.
“The department is working closely and tirelessly with law enforcement agencies to ensure that those responsible for these heinous acts are identified, apprehended, and brought to justice. We remain committed to restoring calm and ensuring that Gauteng’s transport system remains safe, reliable, and free from intimidation or violence,” she reiterated.
Diale-Tlabela said as part of the intervention plans, the department will close down ranks in the province associated with disputes and violence.
“We are withdrawing the operating licences, we are closing the taxi ranks, we are also working on a transport plan to engage other modes of transport to assist as we are resolving the challenges.”
This as Section 91 of the National Land Transport Act (Act No 5 of 2009), empowers the MEC to impose the extraordinary measures in areas experiencing violence, unrest, or instability to normalise transport services and safeguard lives and property by suspending services through closure of routes and ranks, amending or revoking operating licences and so on.
She said that the safety of commuters and transport workers remained the department’s top priority.
“I am calling upon men in the province to join the crisis committee in the province to assist in resolving the challenge of issuing operating licences faced by the province.
“Public transport related violence has a greater devastating financial impact on operators, commuters and the community at large.”
She said this scourge has also impacted those who have lost their loved ones, their source of income and the ability to move freely and safely in public spaces.
“The department remains steadfast in its commitment to ensure that public transport systems are safe, reliable, and accessible to all.”
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to bennittb@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok.
