Vukta launches response vehicles

SECUNDA- Vukanini Taxi Association launched its tactical response unit on 28 May.

This unit, according to Mr Fanyana Sibanyoni, Vukta chairman, was formed to counter the numerous hijacking of taxis.

The drivers are even targeted at their homes.

The unit currently has four cars and crews, but the association’s members hope to add more vehicles in future.

Mr Sibanyoni said the purpose of the response team is not to compete with the police, but merely to safeguard their business.

He said their response unit will safeguard their taxis during the night from 6pm to 6am and will only stop a taxi to check if the driver is still safe or if he was hijacked.

Mr Sibanyoni, on behalf of Vukta, said they are not going to respond to crimes that require police involvement, but if one of their taxi owners suspects criminal activities in his or her yard, they are free to call the response team for assistance.

“We are part of the community and if we are being asked to assist before police arrive, we will go and check what is happening because at times the police vehicle is too busy to attend to everybody. The community is our clients where we get money from and if they have a problem, we will assist if requested.”

Mr Sibanyoni said it is for this reason that Vukta approached the owners of filling stations to ask for help to obtain the response cars.

“We have approached the owners of all the petrol filling stations from Secunda, Kinross, Evander and eMbalenhle, to give business to everyone.

“A few didn’t respond to our request, but the majority heeded our call and gave us four response cars, though we still need more,” said Mr Sibanyoni.

He said the response unit will also assist these filling stations if they have a crime-related emergency.

“All filling stations that contributed will get business from us”, said Mr Sibanyoni.

When opening the event, Govan Mbeki Municipality’s executive mayor, Mr Nhlakanipho Zuma, applauded Vukta for taking responsibility for their community.