September 12, 2007
By George Matlala
THE Gauteng department of public transport, roads and works has announced measures to stem the violence that has wracked the taxi industry in recent months.
Several drivers and commuters have been shot in ongoing violence at the Bree Street taxi rank and along Hendrik Potgieter Road in Roodepoort. Only last week two taxi drivers were shot dead and two passengers injured in two separate incidents at the Bree Street rank and in Honeydew, west of Johannesburg.
The violence has been blamed on taxi associations fighting over the route from Bree Street to the Clearwater Mall in Roodepoort.
Addressing the media on Tuesday, Sam Ledwaba, Gauteng registrar of public transport, said his department would act decisively to stop the violence. "We have noted with concern how these conflicts have resulted in loss of life of operators and passengers," said Ledwaba. "We have all come to the point of saying enough is enough let us stop the carnage."
Calling for an end to clashes: chairperson of Greater Johannesburg Regional Taxi Council, Eric Motshwane, chairperson of the Gauteng National Taxi Alliance, Sicelo Mabasa, registrar of public transport in Gauteng, Sam Ledwaba, and Terrence Tswaela, director of public transport services in the Gauteng department of public transport, roads and works
Ledwaba said the Bree Street taxi rank in Johannesburg CBD would be put under constant police surveillance after being identified as the main flashpoint.
The provincial department of public transport, roads and works would hold a meeting involving the Greater Johannesburg Regional Taxi Council (GJRTC), the Gauteng National Taxi Alliance (GNTA), the Faraday Taxi Association, the Dobsonville, Roodepoort, Leratong, Johannesburg Taxi Association (Dorljota) and community-based structures in Kibler Park, south of Johannesburg, next Tuesday.
Ledwaba expressed frustration that negotiations had failed to stop the violence.
Dorljota, he noted, was the only association registered to operate from the Bree Street taxi rank to the Clearwater Mall.
Eric Motshwane, chairperson of GJRTC pledged his support for the initiative. "We need total stability in the industry. We will collaborate with the department to bring peace among different associations."
Sicelo Mabaso, chairperson of GNTA, also said his organisation was prepared to work with the government and law enforcement agencies to end the taxi war. "We need all of us to join hand in hand to eradicate the carnage in the taxi industry," he said.
According to Ledwaba, commuters have started using buses due to the instability in the taxi industry. "We must indicate that the conflicts are stretching the patience of the citizens of this province, especially passengers," he said.
Ledwaba called on witnesses to come forward with information on people fanning the violence.
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