Warning of indefinite route closures after 60 die in taxi violence

THE closure of major taxi routes where conflict has claimed more than 60 lives in the Eastern Cape will hurt taxi owners’ finances and affect commuters over the Easter weekend.

Police Minister Bheki Cele has warned that the R61 and the N2 junction to Maclear and Tsolo will be closed indefinitely unless there is absolute compliance by taxi operators with a peace accord.

Cele said: “The selfishness of the taxi industry must be cut to zero. We cannot continue to count dead bodies like a taxi load.

“Sixty people is a big number. The killings must be eradicated.

“The routes belong to the citizens and are not to be manipulated by taxi bosses for selfish financial gains.”

The shutdown of the routes follows several interventions‚ including the signing of a peace accord‚ facilitated by the provincial government.

“All interventions to date have failed dismally‚ hence the police minister has taken drastic measures in stamping the authority of the state‚” the ministry said.

Uncedo Service Taxi Association vice-chairman Mxwanele Qwabe said yesterday that shutting down the routes was too harsh. “We are worried about our commuters. “The people of Johannesburg and Cape Town will drop off and go back empty.

“Those people coming from Johannesburg have nothing to do with the taxi violence. They want to visit their family that’s all‚” he said. He acknowledged that the police had to do their job.

“Whether it is an innocent life or someone in the industry‚ as Uncedo we don’t accept the killings at all.

“The minister took the shortcut by implementing the road closures.

“The alternative is to make sure that there are road blocks in all corners of Mthatha.”

Cele said it was not the first time that a decision had been taken to close down taxi routes.

“But what is different this time is that unless there is absolute compliance with the peace accord‚ the routes will be closed indefinitely‚ so that the hand of government is felt in this area.

“Even if they take us to court‚ we will defend the authority of the state.

“After the signing of the ceasefire agreement 13 people have been killed and 17 cases of attempted murder have been registered.

“We are not a banana republic‚ therefore business cannot continue as usual.”

The ministry said Cele‚ with the provincial leadership in the Eastern Cape led by the Transport‚ Safety and Liaison MEC Weziwe Tikana and SAPS provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Liziwe Ntshinga‚ had held a lengthy meeting with the top executive of the two rival taxi operators – Uncedo Services Taxi Association and Border Alliance Taxi Association.

“The discussions were exhausted without any of the parties taking responsibility for the ongoing violence,” it said. – TimesLIVE