Pretoria a 'role model' in taxi industry peace
Unity is a key factor in maintaining peace and order in the taxi industry in Pretoria, a transport summit has heard.
|||Pretoria - Unity in a sector that was rife with violence and killings had been a key factor in maintaining peace and order in the taxi industry in Pretoria, a transport summit has heard.
"The city is actually a role model within Gauteng. One of the reasons is that we had a smooth transition with the Bus Rapid Transit; there were no quarrels and people didn't lose their lives when it was introduced," said Piet Mahlangu, Gauteng National Taxi Alliance chairman.
He was speaking at the end of the Minibus Industry Taxi Summit at Saint George's Hotel and Conference Centre in Irene, hosted by the Gauteng government.
The two-day summit was aimed at highlighting and finding solutions to issues that had plagued the industry, while also fostering partnerships between the taxi industry and the government.
He said he was happy with the outcome of the summit and agreements that were meant to improve the industry. "We agreed on long-term goals that will make it easier and safer for us to operate within the country," he said.
"One of the things that we agreed upon was the issue of operating permits because there was a problem because of backlogs and systems malfunctioning."
He said the provincial government agreed that it would take the matter to the national Department of Roads and Transport.
Premier David Makhura said there were approximately 30 000 taxis operating without permits despite having applied for them. "The applicants have not heard from government because of inefficiencies, but we have turned around that situation," he said.
Makhura explained that the provincial Department of Roads and Transport assisted taxi operators throughout the province with acquiring permits.
"One of the key issues that were discussed was the transformation and integration of the taxi industry. Some of the taxis are already involved and accredited to transport Gautrain commuters to and from stations," he said.
Makhura said the issue of violence was also discussed at great lengths in order to eradicate it from the industry. "This was done to normalise the industry and hound out all the killers and those who profit from killing people in the industry."
MEC for Roads and Transport Dr Ismail Vadi read out a declaration that would pave the way for a new era of in the taxi industry.
The objective is to regulate operations of minibus taxis in Gauteng with the aim of bringing stability and safety, and fully integrate the industry into the broader transport system.
Vadi said this would also aim to improve the safety of road users to ensure a reduction in road fatalities.
It would also urgently eradicate harmful conflicts and violence in the minibus industry so that all stakeholders could function in a climate of peace and tranquillity.
Some recent violent incidents
* Four weeks ago, two alleged taxi bosses were gunned down outside the Mall of Africa.
* In June, the vice-president of the Alexandra Taxi Association was killed in a drive-by-shooting on Marlboro Drive in Sandton.
* In the same month, another two taxi operators were killed in drive-by shootings in Alexandra.
* Also in June, a 67-year-old taxi boss was shot and killed outside his home in Moroka North, Soweto. The man had just bought a new Toyota Avanza and was pulling out of his driveway when he was gunned down.
* In May, two bystanders were injured in Katlehong after two rival taxi drivers got into a fight over routes and opened fire on one another.
* Also in May, Ivory Park Taxi Association chairman Dumisani Mlambo was gunned down in Tembisa.
* In the same month, a taxi driver was beaten with bricks by two assailants at the Noord taxi rank in the Joburg CBD.
* Also in May, two taxi bosses and a bystander were wounded in a Mall of Africa shootout.
Pretoria News
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