EC taxi bosses sign agreement to end violence

Transport MEC Xolile Nqatha held a ceremony to mark the signing between the different groups on Wednesday

Eastern Cape taxi bosses have signed a peace accord to end the violence that has been plaguing the industry.

Taxi killings in the province claimed the lives of 29 people during the 2021/2022 financial year, and that was not the end of it.

Transport MEC Xolile Nqatha held a ceremony on Wednesday to mark the signing of the agreement between different taxi groups.

“The department, together with stakeholders, is going to ensure that all areas of disagreements, whether it is the routes, leadership tensions or other matters affecting the industry, will be resolved,” Nqatha said.

“We have agreed that the guns must be silenced and we are fully aware that peace in the taxi industry has its enemies.

“And that is because there are people who benefit from violence in the taxi industry.”

He said the department came to an agreement with the taxi leaders to secure peace, not only in the interests of the industry itself, but for communities and commuters.

“A commitment was made, but there are no guarantees that peace will be prioritised,” Nqatha said.

“I do not take it lightly that the leaders have worked with the government to ensure there is peace within the sector.

“I appreciate the leaders who took the initiative of ensuring we implement this peace accord.”

What was supposed to be a brief signing ceremony between the department and taxi bosses on Wednesday took almost four hours as there were last-minute disagreements about some points in the accord.

Border Alliance Taxi Association (Bata) president Songezo Mphanda said this round of taxi violence started in Mthatha a few months ago.

“The Bata members were fighting with members of the Uncedo taxi association, which caused major concern to the government as lives were lost.

“We gathered as the taxi bosses across the province because we want to end the violence among the associations.”

He said, starting from next week, taxi bosses would implement what was expected of them and talk to the taxi drivers to ensure the violence would end everywhere.

“We are not in a war zone, and we do not want any more bloodshed.”

More than 100 members of the industry gathered at the East London ICC auditorium to discuss the accord and debate some of its clauses.

“Some Bata members did not agree with the peace accord, hence the delay in signing the document,” Mphanda said.

“We tried to persuade the members. Then Nqatha spoke to them and advised them, and they eventually agreed.”

Since the 2021/2022 financial year, several taxi operators and bystanders have died in suspected hits, including a gun battle that erupted on January 16 at the Port St Johns taxi rank.

At least three men died in that incident, with five people wounded and three taxis torched.

A total of 11 people have been charged in connection with the confrontation.

Uncedo president Fuzile Mtshengele made a commitment that his members would end the violence.

“We will not focus only on the Transkei areas, but throughout the entire province.”

SA National Taxi Council (Santaco) president Zola Yolelo said the organisation was confident that with the agreement of the government and taxi stakeholders, people would see the difference in the industry.

“We are glad the government has intervened to curb the violence as this has given Santaco hope that the peace accord will end all our worries.”

He said the main causes of taxi violence were selfishness, intolerance, greed and grudges.

“The taxi routes were not the main cause of the violence it was just pettiness, and I hope it has come to an end.”