Pretoria - Gauteng Premier David Makhura is due to hold talks with the leadership of the two major taxi associations in Mamelodi today.
This after it was reported on Friday that minibus taxis were operating in the township in Tshwane following a one day stay away on Thursday.
In a statement on Thursday, the Gauteng Provincial Government said that the Premier would meet the taxi associations while also appealing to both commuters and taxi associations to obey the rule of law.
Taxi services were withdrawn in Mamelodi after some taxis were impounded earlier this week by the traffic police. Infringements included expired permits; invalid or no vehicle license discs and some drivers were driving without valid drivers’ licenses.
A number of taxis were on the road illegally with fraudulent operating licenses. Police also confiscated two firearms and in one instance found drugs in a taxi.
Acting Premier Barbara Creecy said the withdrawal of taxi services was unfortunate and unnecessary.
She said that government’s primary concern was for commuters to make a choice about the mode of transport they wish to use, and to do so safely.
Roads and Transport MEC Ismail Vadi confirmed that Autopax busses had to run multiple shifts to assist stranded commuters and he was grateful that this was done without any violent attacks on commuters or the busses.
Community Safety MEC Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane said: “We cannot sit back and allow a few disgruntled individuals within the taxi industry to hold us at ransom and compromise the safety of our citizens. Law enforcement is non-negotiable and we will continue to enforce the law until they comply”.
She said these operations will continue until Mamelodi was back to full normality. - SAnews.gov.za
