Transport MEC set to relax taxi ban - with conditions

IN A bid to quell taxi violence, Eastern Cape transport, safety and liaison MEC Weziwe Tikana yesterday agreed to lift sanctions imposed in the O R Tambo district on condition that not a single life was lost in this way in future.

The MEC spent the whole of yesterday in talks with leaders of both Uncedo Service Taxi Association and Border Alliance Taxi Association (Bata) in Mthatha, where she put a proposal on the table. The proposal – if accepted – will see the lifting of bans on travelling routes and reopening of several taxi ranks. The two associations have been given until Sunday to decide.

Last month the government closed three taxi ranks plus the R61 taxi route between Mthatha and Port St Johns for six weeks after two people were killed and eight others injured in a shooting blitz by unknown gunmen at Ntlaza taxi rank near Libode.

While Tikana and the two associations seemed to agree on a number of issues during yesterday’s marathon meeting, she warned that the state would not hesitate to bring the bans back at the first sign of violence.

“If we waive the gazetted sanctions, and we hear that they are fighting, we hear about burning taxis or that they are murdering each other, we will not hesitate,” she said.

It was agreed in the meeting that the two associations would sign a memorandum of understanding with the MEC which would see the state stepping up its monitoring role. She said the prosecution of all those already arrested will continue.

More than 31 people have died since the outbreak of taxi violence last year in the O R Tambo district alone.

Bata national president Vuyani Mshiywa and Uncedo national executive committee member Bishop Zola Yolelo said their associations were committed to ensuring there was no more blood spilled.

The MEC highlighted that eight people had been arrested in connection with the shooting at the Ntlaza Taxi rank last month. —