Taxi mayhem

AXI DRIVERS have never claimed to subscribe to Dale Carnegie’s philosophy of how to win friends and influence people. At taxi ranks and on the roads, they operate mostly the way to know best how – by using the argument of force, not the force of argument. And so it was in the streets of Joburg on Monday.

The United Taxi Associations Front, claiming to represent about 15 taxi affiliations, stopped operating and so caused major inconvenience to thousands of commuters going to work and to school.

The Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry said the impact of the protest action – during which at one stage the taxi drivers blocked the M1 and M2 highways and also forced passengers out of private vehicles in Soweto and the CBD – was huge.

There is no question that the taxi industry is an important part of Gauteng’s – and the country’s – public transport structures and plays a critical role in the province’s economic growth.

Part of the cause of Monday’s protest is said to be unhappiness with the permit system that can determine whether owners are liable to e-tolling.

We urge stakeholders to ensure that problems in system are resolved quickly. Commuters and the economy must not be held to ransom.

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