Durban — A bitter showdown is looming between the KwaZulu-Natal government and defiant Durban Long Distance Taxi Association bosses following a crackdown that was announced by Transport and Human Settlement MEC Siboniso Duma and provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
The two men did not mince words and have said they were fed up with the continued wayward behaviour of taxi operators that were blocking roads in the province.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday after conducting a roadblock at Mariannhill toll plaza on the N3 in Durban, Duma warned the association bosses that he would not allow them to compromise the entire industry because of their refusal to adhere to the rule of law.
Duma said their consistent refusal to come and collect their permits and insistence that they were not there was becoming a problem. The MEC said that on Thursday, he would meet with the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) and other taxi owners where he would provide tangible proof that there were close to 5000 permits that were lying in the department offices uncollected. He added that he had to do this so that the public would judge who was lying between him and the taxi owners.
“We are working well with other associations except one, which is the Durban Long Distance Taxi Association and we cannot allow one association to compromise the industry. I’m going to meet with Santaco on Thursday and we must name and shame those who are refusing to collect their permits yet they are saying there are no permits,” warned Duma.
In the published document which proved that there were permits, the MEC said 115 belong to the Durban Long Distance Taxi Association, adding that 68 of the taxi owners had come forward. Still, the department could not issue them since they did not have rank permits from eThekwini municipality. He stated that it is a requirement that before a taxi is issued with a permit, the owner must produce a rank stand permit from the municipality.
Adding his voice to clamp down on those misbehaving, Mkhwanazi announced that police were hunting down the taxi drivers and owners who blocked the N3 on Monday. He said police would “make an example“ with them on what happens to a person who commits a crime. Mkhwanazi said their behaviour would not be tolerated, vowing to deal with anyone that will interfere with the rights of others when aggrieved.
However, Durban Long Distance Taxi Association’s Bhekisisa Nzuza said they would not stop the strike until their demands were met. He said they were open to negotiations to resolve the matter but were not prepared to give up their demands.
In what could potentially result in violence, the Daily News has learned of cracks within the association where a certain number of taxi owners have approached the MEC and asked for a meeting where they will publicly distance themselves from the strike. The MEC confirmed that there were owners who approached him for a meeting.
Taxi drivers downed keys on Friday after receiving instructions from their bosses, leaving thousands of commuters stranded. The association said they decided to stop operations after the MEC refused to suspend the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) unit known as Operation Shanela which is known for “sweeping up” all unroadworthy taxis off the road. Another demand turned down by Duma was the release of impounded taxis, which he said was a legal process he would not interfere with.
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