Stop taxi ’bullies’: Top-level probe as Dunoon taxi ‘policy’ threatens staff transport
|Published
CONCERN: Dunoon Taxi Association is trying to oust private transport operators
The South African National Taxi Council is investigating a new “policy” by Dunoon operators warning private vehicles not to transport workers.
This follows notices via WhatsApp that Dunoon taxis will not allow anyone to pick up staff from the area.
It reads: “Du Noon Taxi Association (DTA) will not allow anyone to pick up staff from Du Noon with private transportation. All staff must make use of the DTA taxi service. DTA will transport staff who work off route on the back of bakkies to and from work.”
It comes days after Codeta retracted a statement in which they allegedly tried to strong-arm private transport services out of Khayelitsha.
Last Tuesday, the taxi association distributed flyers that warn staff transport and e-hailing drivers to “stop taking their customers”.
However, following a meeting with Western Cape Transport MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela that afternoon, Codeta secretary Lesley Sikupela said the notice “was badly written” and retracted it.
On Tuesday Santaco spokesman Gershon Geyer said the Dunoon issue has been escalated.
“We are looking into this matter and the chairman has also been contacted by the minister,” he said.
“We are not aware of any of the new policies in Dunoon.”
Madikizela says he is seriously concerned with reports of intimidation and extortion by taxi associations.
“An intergovernmental group of officials from the Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works, SAPS, Metro Police, the Department of Community Safety, City of Cape Town, the National Prosecuting Authority met again yesterday and the notice by Dunoon Taxi Association was raised for the cluster to look at,” he said.
Madikizela said he contacted the leadership of Santaco yesterday and raised his concerns and “made it very clear that law and order will not be compromised”.
Jenny Sefton of Rate Your Ride Organisation says taxi associations should be held accountable for the threats.
“To advertise on a public platform that they are going to extort money from these guys and threaten them with their lives and the fact that they are not being held accountable, it proves beyond a doubt that the taxi industry bullies run this country and it has to come to an end. As commuters we fear for our lives and many risk their lives every day getting onto the taxis,” she says.
“The government refuses to step in, we deserve the right to safety, security and health when taking public transport and the government needs to start doing something about it.”