The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Roads and Transport Portfolio Committee has announced measures aimed at clamping down on spiralling taxi violence across its ranks.
The measures came after the portfolio committee on Wednesday met with the Gauteng taxi industry leadership and affected stakeholders in order to facilitate the prevalence of peace and stability.
Presentations were made to the committee by the taxi industry leadership and provincial Transport Department on what they perceive to be the major contributors of fuelling violence in the industry and what could be done to end the violence.
The leadership of the taxi industry took ownership of the ongoing violence in the industry and blamed some operators who do not adhere to the regulations of the industry by operating in routes not allocated to them. Representatives of the industry also raised concerns around the manner in which the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport and Local Municipalities issues operating permits particularly in new malls and residential areas.
Both the department and the taxi industry committed to a safe, peaceful, reliable, efficient and accessible transport system and condemned violence and the recent killings.
All parties agreed to the hold an urgent meeting with the provincial government leadership all taxi associations in Gauteng as well as affected stakeholders including law enforcement agencies.
The committee and department will also develop roadmap on implementation of Ad-hoc Committee’s resolutions into the issuing of permits and operating licensees.
Another resolution was for the attainment of gun free taxi ranks.
It was also resolved that the taxi industry to immediately deal with power struggles between the leadership of its associations.
The committee said law enforcement agencies to collaborate with the taxi industry leadership to deal with any credible information that will lead to the arrest of all the perpetrators.
“The time for merely condemning taxi violence has come to an end, decisive actions need to be taken to fight the scourge of taxi violence. Too many of our brothers and sisters are losing their lives daily in taxi related violence and this has reached unacceptable proportions,” said Chairperson of the Roads and Transport Portfolio Committee, Honourable Mafika Mgcina. – SAnews.gov.za
