Taxis warn that ‘blood will flow’
SO-CALLED illegal taxi operators have threatened that “things could turn ugly - where blood will be shed” as they obstructed the entrances to Sol Plaatje Municipality with burning tyres.
Security personnel and the police stopped them from entering the building on Wednesday, as they sought to prevent a follow-up meeting from taking place between Santaco Frances Baard and the municipal manager, following a request for an impounding facility to remove illegal taxi operators from their routes.
Members of the Kimberley Local Transport Association and Thusano Taxi Association said that there were about 50 paid-up members operating in Kimberley who were still waiting for operating permits.
“If the impounding facility is approved, it will cost about R10 000 to release our taxis if they are impounded. Blood is going to flow, we will fight tooth and nail to keep our businesses alive,” they warned.
“We paid R300 for operating permits but we cannot access them as the Provincial Regulatory Authority that issues the permits was dissolved last week. So our hands are tied. Last year Santaco wrote letters to the banks on our behalf, now they are throwing us away.”
Thusano Taxi Association member Jeremia Moshimane said that they wanted to be included in the meeting that took place between Santaco and the municipal manager.
“We met earlier with the municipal manager on Wednesday and he told us it is a requirement for a municipality to have an impounding facility. We want equal opportunities to make a living and to be given permits like all the other operators. We also have families to feed and children to send to school. We all pay taxi rank fees so we have a right to operate.”
Santaco Frances Baard could not be reached for comment.
Sol Plaatje Municipality spokesperson Thoko Riet said the municipal manager had met with Santaco, where it was agreed that an impounding facility would be established immediately, although a suitable venue still had to be found.