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Gauteng Taxi Violence Requires Coordinated Approach

Effect of Taxi Violence

The DA welcomes the arrest of five suspects following the fatal shooting of a 45-year old woman at the Sangweni taxi rank in Tembisa on Tuesday.

It is believed the incident was in connection with an ongoing war between rival taxi associations, allegedly over routes.

The DA is highly concerned over the effect of taxi violence on Gauteng’s people.

Increased Police Presence

In the absence of other transport alternatives, hundreds of thousands of commuters use minibus taxis to get to work and go about their business every day – and should be able to do so without fearing for their lives.

While the swift police response following this incident is commendable, the DA believes that increased police presence and action alone will not address the core issues at play.

Disputes and violence between taxi operators over routes arise when operators without the required route permits poach passengers along the routes of others.

Preventing this requires a proactive approach from both the departments of community safety and roads and transport, by increasing law enforcement along taxi routes, and to immediately impound operators without valid permits.

Increased Cooperation Between Transport and Community Safety

Disputes over routes are easier solved at the negotiating table and through proactive government action, instead of trying to crisis manage incidence of violence whenever they flare up.

To this end the DA will engage with both Transport MEC Ismael Vadi and his counterpart in Community Safety, Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane to increase cooperation between their departments and to act against illegal taxi operators.

Gauteng’s commuters need safe and affordable transport to go about their daily business, and the DA will continue to act in their interests and hose for a safer province.

 

Media enquiries:

Dr Neil Campbell MPL

DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Roads and Transport

082 387 2540

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MEC Vadi Must Restrain From Ambiguous Statements Passed as Fact

Misleading Quotes

Misleading quotes by Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Ismail Vadi, stating that the law does not allow for the subsidisation of taxis must not go unchallenged.

Vadi, who sits on the Ministerial-MEC Committee for Transport, is in a position to advise the often uninformed Minister of Transport, Dipuo Peters, on matters of both provincial and national importance regarding transport.

Necessary Legislative Steps

Whilst the debate on whether the taxi industry should be subsidised must still take place, the MEC cannot state that the law will not allow this.

Constitutionally there is no right to not subsides them, nor are they precluded.  It would require someone taking the issue through the necessary legislative steps –nothing more or less.

Whether the taxi industry deserves these subsidies and has the technical ability to apply them must still be debated by a multi-party forum. Freedom to operate, fairness in awarding state subsidies and opportunities to all role players must take precedence.

 

Media enquiries:

Neil Campbell MPL

DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Roads and Transport

082 387 2540

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Mamelodi Bus Violence: Rule of Law must be Enforced

Taxi Operators VS Provincial Department of Roads and Transport

The DA condemns in the strongest sense the violence that has denied residents of Mamelodi, Tshwane, their right to safely commute to and from work.

Disputes between taxi operators and the Provincial Department of Roads and Transport, who signed a three month contract with Passenger Rail of South Africa’s subsidiary bus company Autopax, has left thousands of commuters stranded – with violence now escalating to the point where many have been caught up in the conflict.

Six months ago, when PUTCO indicated it would be terminating its services due to inefficient bus subsidies administered by the provincial department, the DA insisted that the department deal with the matter timeously to avoid any impact this would have on commuters.

Adequate Stakeholder Engagement

The signing of the contract with Autopax was done in such a manner that sufficient oversight into the awarding of the tender was sidestepped, as the announcement was made after the contract was signed.

Had proper oversight been conducted, adequate stakeholder engagement could have taken place – which would have negated the violence that is currently playing out in Mamelodi.

Rule of Law

This being said, the rule of law must be applied equitably and those found transgressing it must be brought to book.

The wilful destruction and malicious damage to property are serious offences.

So too is harm caused to commuters who are in dire need of these public services.

This shambolic affair will continue to entrench Apartheid spatial planning by keeping the residents of Mamelodi away from economic centres of growth.

It will also have a knock on effect of increased job loss and poverty.

Gauteng Premier Makhura must take strong action against Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC Ismail Vadi for allowing the situation in Mamelodi to deteriorate to such an extent that people’s lives have been placed in danger.

These are not the actions of a responsive, caring government but those of one that continues to neglect the provinces marginalised people.

 

Media enquiries:

John Moodey MPL

DA Gauteng Provincial Leader

082 960 3743

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