Minibus taxis blockade R300, Mew Way
AMID ongoing tension at the Bellville taxi rank, more than 300 minibus taxis blockaded the R300 and Mew Way road yesterday, after they were asked to return to the station.
The drivers involved cited safety concerns and after allegedly refusing to go back to the station, had to be escorted to Khayelitsha.
Police spokesperson Noloyiso Rwexana said public order police monitored the situation in Mew Way and remained in the area until the road was cleared.
SA National Taxi Council provincial spokesperson Gershon Geyer said there was a stand-off between the Congress of Democratic Taxi Associations (Codeta) and the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata) at the Bellville rank.
Geyer claimed that Codeta drivers removed their vehicles from the rank a few weeks ago and were loading passengers on a nearby field.
He said they were asked by police and law enforcement officers to move back to the rank but refused, saying they felt it was not safe to do so.
“So they removed the vehicles yesterday and were escorted by the police back to Khayelitsha,” Geyer said.
Geyer said the stand-off was related to unresolved “Paarl/Belville” issues.
“A proposal was given to the Transport and Public Works MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela last week – from both parties; unfortunately he has been out of town for a few days. He will be back today, and hopefully will come up with a solution to these issues,” Geyer said.
The Cape Argus attempted to contact Madikizela, and his spokesperson Ntomboxolo Makoba-Somdaka, but they could not be reached for comment.
Codeta spokesperson Besuthu Ndungane claimed their drivers were threatened by drivers from Cata, as well as intimidated their passengers.
“The drivers were then forced to take their taxis to the owners because they were not safe,” Ndungane said.
Cata secretary Mandla Hermanus said he was not sure what happened yesterday.
He said Codeta had been operating from land at Belrail Road for more than a week and had opposed attempts to move them to the taxi rank, citing safety concerns following a spate of violent incidents at the rank.
“We understand that law enforcement instructed the operators to move to the rank. Apparently instead of going to the rank, the drivers formed a motorcade and drove to Site C in Khayelitsha. I don’t know what the motive was,” Hermanus said.
Transport and Public Works spokesperson Jandré Bakker said the department was investigating the matter, and would report back as soon as they “have all the facts”. |