Santaco – You may not give hitchhikers lifts
The council said it is their business as taxi operators to pick up passengers because they have permits that let them do so.
According to the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco), no motorist is permitted to give hitchhikers a lift, even if it is a family member.
The council said it is their business as taxi operators to pick up passengers because they have permits that let them do so.
Fanyana Sibanyoni, the Santaco national deputy president, Mpumalanga Santaco chairperson and the Vukanini Taxi Association (Vukta) chairperson, told the Ridge Times taxi operators have permits to load passengers and motorists cannot pick up others because they are not taxis.
“Hitchhiking is risky for hitchhikers and motorists, especially as we approach the festive holidays. Motorists get hijacked because they pick up hitchhikers who are car hijackers.
“Recently, we read in the Ridge Times of a hitchhiker given a lift from the Khaya Mall in eMbalenhle. He was robbed and dumped near eThokomala School in Kinross.
“Hitchhiking and picking up hitchhikers are risky. There are hijackings around our area that involve hitchhikers, such as the four-way stop in Kinross that became a hijacking hotspot.
“Motorists who picked up hijackers believing they were hitchhikers can tell about their experiences. Some have lost their cars and belongings while also being injured.
“Some were dumped in the veld in Gauteng after being hijacked,” said Sibanyoni. He said there are many hijacking cases in Leandra and Kinross.
Sibanyoni claimed a taxi is the safest transport to use because no one will be robbed or hijacked. Sibanyoni said as taxi operators, they will always protect their business because they are legally permitted to transport commuters.
