Eroding of routes triggering taxi war
DWINDLING routes are at the centre of an all-out bloody taxi war that has killed five people in just three days.
An industry insider said rival associations were sending out hitmen to take each other out in the escalating fight for routes. He accused the long-distance drivers of “stealing” the customers of local operators when they drive through their routes.
“The warring associations include the Pretoria, Randburg, Soshanguve Taxi Association, the Zwanani Marabastad Taxi Association and the Alexandra, Ranburg, Midrand Taxi Association. This is all about the lack of money being made with the long-distance routes,” the insider said.
The alleged disputed routes are all located in Randburg, Olievenhoutbosch and the Tshwane areas. The deadliest confrontations are on the R114 and R55 in Olievenhoutbosch and Centurion.
The National Taxi Association spokesperson Theo Malele said the recent escalation was caused by the encroachment of routes.
“This is the main reason for the violence in our view. The struggle is among associations. These taxi bodies are led by operators who are owners of taxis,” Malele said.
He said the conflict is felt by unsuspecting drivers who are mostly breadwinners.
He said these acts are fuelled by greed and the hiring of hitmen by operators.
“The National Taxi Association calls on its members to steer clear of violence, and instead advocate for dialogue as a means of resolving differences. We (NTA) can’t sit and watch people lose their lives like it’s fashionable,” added Malale.
He said that the recent killings in Olievenhoutbosch should not be left to continue unabated, and that law enforcement should leave no stone unturned in finding the perpetrators.
Malele called on the government to take serious measures to halt the unending scourge of violence in the sector.
“If it was a case of a politician being killed, the government would stop at nothing to ensure that those who commit crimes are brought to book,” he said.
Gauteng public transport and roads infrastructure MEC, Jacob Mamabolo, warned that taxi operating licences issued by the government will not be used for cold-blooded murder activities.
“We will not allow Taxi Operating Licences issued by the government to be used to murder children and commuters. We will defend the taxi industry for which these permits are meant. But we will isolate a murder industry that is working hard daily to capture the taxi industry,” said Mamabolo.
Mamabolo yesterday engaged in a series of consultations to bring a lasting solution to the Olievenhoutbosch unrest.
Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Elias Mawela has condemned the violence, which also resulted in the serious injury of a policeman, who was airlifted to hospital.
Mawela assured the public that police will work around the clock to track down and arrest the perpetrators.
“As the police, we are duty-bound to ensure the safety of commuters who rely on taxis as a means of transport, especially during this festive season, where people will be travelling long and short distances to different destinations,” said Mawela.
Cases of murder and attempted murder were being investigated.
This comes days before the scheduled commission of inquiry on taxi violence in the province is due to take place.
Malele said the taxi industry is being encouraged to go to the commission and that the forum be used to air the reasons for the violence.
Commission spokesperson Koena Moabelo said the inquiry is aware of the ongoing violence and they are tracking information sources daily.
Moabelo said the commission would carry on as normal and is dependent on submitted information.
“You will understand that no one can appear before the commission without having had submitted information for assessment, affidavit consolidation and then appearance.
“The commission would like to encourage all the warring taxi associations to come forward,” he said.