Moyahabo Mabeba
LIMPOPO – At a recent provincial taxi indaba, it emerged that traffic- and police officers target taxi drivers who they supposedly solicit bribes from.
Lesiba Mathobela, the secretary of the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) Limpopo, informed Transport, Safety and Liaison MEC, Mapula Mokaba-Phukwana, that as taxi operators they are frustrated by corrupt law enforcers who demand bribes from their drivers.
In a strong-worded presentation to the indaba, Mathobela said: “MEC, please note that your officers are frustrating us with these corrupt tendencies of wanting their palms to be greased. They are all over the provincial roads waiting for our drivers with the hope of finding faults on their vehicles.
“Even if the taxi is faultless, they will stop at nothing to find something minor in the pursuit of receiving a bribe. It is unfair for poor taxi drivers who are forced to give out their hard-earned money to traffic- and police officers who have regular monthly salaries. Taxi drivers work under severe pressure to put food on the table for their families. These corrupt elements dressed in khaki- and blue uniforms should be dealt with and this should be addressed as a matter of urgency. What is even more worrying is that most of them are unable to interpret operating permits. Then there is the flawed process of the issuing of operating licenses. We present these grievances with a firm belief and trust that our honourable MEC will provide political intervention”.
Apart from the conflict between taxi operators and law enforcement agents, Mathobela also cited flawed policy and legislation, non-recognition of taxi industry structures, prolonged processes in the issuing of operating licences at service points and the exorbitant fees relating to taxi recapitalisation.
Transport, Safety and Liaison MEC, Mapula Mokaba-Phukwana responds to claim
‘The department is aware of traffic- and police officers demanding bribes from motorists.”
“We are sending a stern warning to officers who solicit bribes from motorists. You taxi operators; you are not supposed to bribe these corrupt officials because these officers have monthly salaries. We have already heard of these criminal acts. As a department we will do something about this matter and we will crack the whip,” responded Mokaba-Phukwana.
