Taxi violence shuts route, three ranks

IN AN effort to deal with ongoing taxi violence in the O R Tambo district, the state and the police have closed three taxi ranks and the R61 taxi route between Mthatha and Lusikisiki for six weeks starting yesterday.

Since taxi violence erupted last year, 30 taxi owners, operators, passengers and pedestrians have lost their lives.

The route and rank closure will see the deployment of specialised police units.

The announcement was made by Safety and Liaison MEC Weziwe Tikana and SA Police Service provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Liziwe Ntshinga in a meeting with taxi bosses at the Nyandeni council chamber in Libode.

Tikana and Ntshinga said there was a peace accord in place that had been signed by two feuding taxi associations – Uncedo Service Taxi Associated (Usta) and Border Alliance Taxi Association (Bata) – but it was never adhered to.

The taxi ranks that have been closed are Circus Triangle in Mthatha, Ntlaza near Libode, Port St Johns, and Ngqeleni taxi rank in Ngqeleni.

Only Usta leaders, led by their national president Ntsikelelelo Geahler, attended yesterday’s meeting.

“We do not know why Bata leadership did not attend,” he said.

Contacted for comment, Bata president Vuyani Mshiywa said he intended attending the meeting but some Bata members feared for their lives.

Ntshinga said 49 people had already been arrested in connection with taxi violence.

They face charges relating to murder, public violence and arson.

The provincial commissioner and the MEC said buses would be escorted by police.

In addition to the large number of police officers being deployed, the number of traffic officers would also be increased.

The closing of the route and taxi ranks came hardly 24 hours after AmaMpondo senior traditional leader, Chief Gcinusapho Bokleni, called on President Jacob Zuma to intervene after a shooting at the Ntlaza rank on Tuesday, when two people were killed and eight others injured.