Pretoria - The City of Tshwane has condemned the taxi violence in the city following the gruesome murder of the chairperson of the Centurion Taxi Association, Paul Mokoena, last week.
Roads and transport MMC Dikeledi Selowa has condemned the continued killings in the Tshwane taxi industry and called on stakeholders and policing authorities to urgently address the continuing violence.
“My condemnation follows the gruesome murder of the chairperson of the Centurion Taxi Association, Paul Mokoena, (last) Monday.
“This horrible crime occurred while the country’s transport sector is engaged with preparations for the celebration of the October Transport Month campaign.”
Selowa added that this unfortunate and uncalled for murder occurred only months after the brutal murder of the chairperson of the Atteridgeville Saulsville Taxi Owners Association, Thapedi Frank Moremi, in Atteridgeville in May.
He was gunned down in his office at the Mphalane taxi tank in Atteridgeville.
Mokoena was one of the leaders of the Tshwane Taxi Industry. He was not only the chairperson of Centurion Taxi Association, but also the treasurer of the newly established Tshwane Gauteng National Taxi Alliance, with which the City was planning to have an introductory meeting soon.
Selowa said his passing was a great loss not only to his family, friends, the taxi industry and the community, but also to the City of Tshwane.
“In this moment of sorrow, I urge law-enforcement agencies to leave no stone unturned to ensure that the perpetrators of these brutal and merciless killings in the taxi industry are brought to book.
“Meanwhile, the City reiterates its commitment to fight against the scourge of killings and violence in the taxi industry and beyond.
“With the same breath, and on behalf of the City, I wish to convey our deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Mr Mokoena.”
According to a spokesperson for the taxi industry, McDonald Makata, the industry would deal harshly with those involved in taxi violence.
They would have their membership terminated and their taxis removed from associations, he warned.
Pretoria News