‘Taxi bullying’ should be reported says dept
Following the reports of communters in an around the city being bullied by taxi operators in to using their mode of transport Review spoke to a few that have been affected.
POLOKWANE – Taxi operators have over the last few weeks been fighting over routes and commuters.
Following the reports of communters in an around the city being bullied by taxi operators in to using their mode of transport Review spoke to a few that have been affected.
A commuter explained;”We have a right to decide with who we want to travel. Sweeper taxis (a taxi that picks up passengers anywhere on its route) are by far better than rank taxis (taxis that have set pick up points along its route), because you get to your destination faster. At the rank a person has to wait until the taxi is full before it departs. Sometimes a person has to wait more than an hour for a taxi at the rank to get full.
Motorists claim that they are also targeted by taxi operators. “Some of us travel in a lift club to cut costs as we work out of town. But we are not allowed to pick up people at a specific café downtown, or on the corner of Biccard and Grobler Streets because the taxi guys say we are taking their customers. They threaten you and also damage your vehicle,” a motorist said.
A resident who frequently travel long distances like from Polokwane to Johannesburg or Polokwane to Tzaneen, say it is more convenient and cheaper for them to hitchhike than travel by taxi or bus.
Capt Mohlaka Mashiane, Westenburg police spokesperson, confirmed that they are aware of this problem, but referred Review to the Department of Transport, Safety, Security and Liaison for comment
Kagiso Mootane, spokesperson for the department, said MEC Mapula Mokaba-Phukwana recently met with 23 taxi associations where she listened to their complaints and all parties agreed to the following: No taxi operator is allowed to stop any taxis or motorists on the road. The taxi associations will work with the police and traffic officers by giving the names of those who are operating without a permit or outside their prescribed boundaries as stipulated in their permits, and offenders will be fined and vehicles impounded.
Mootane added that it is illegal to stop along the road to pick up people.
“By hitchhiking, people put their lives in danger. They are vulnerable to become victims of rape, robbery or even get run over by a vehicle while standing next to the road. Regarding travelling arrangements, it will be safer to pick up people at legal stopping zones. Motorists who are victimised by taxi operators must take down the registration number of the persons guilty of doing so and report it to the police or the department,” Mootane said.
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