Johannesburg - Taxi drivers need to start respecting other motorists, pedestrians and cyclists.
This was the point Gauteng MEC for Transport Ismail Vadi made on Tuesday morning after the chaos that erupted in the Joburg CBD on Monday as a result of the strike.
Vadi said the lawlessness displayed by taxi drivers, on Monday and in general, was unacceptable.
“They want free reign of the streets, but this won’t happen. Although we accept that 55 percent of the workforce is transported by taxis, and we acknowledge they play a vital role in transport, their intolerance towards other road users is unacceptable.
“We are taking a strong stand on this – they have to adhere to the rules, which apply to everyone, as this impacts on safety,” he said, giving the example of them riding in cyclist and pedestrian lanes along William Nicol Drive.
Traffic officials including the Joburg Metro Police Department, the Gauteng provincial traffic authorities and the Road Traffic Management Corporation’s taxi unit have toughened up and started impounding unroadworthy and unlicensed taxis.
“They want a regime of lawlessness, and to be able to do what they want,” he said.
On Monday the United Taxi Association Front, which claims to represent 15 taxi associations, blockaded the M1 and M2 bringing rush-hour traffic to a standstill, then drivers marched through the city centre to hand over a memorandum to the Department of Transport.
One of their main grievances is the length of time it takes to obtain and renew operating permits. They claim the JMPD impounds taxis without permits despite proof of application of renewal and they want to use Rea Vaya bus lanes.
Vadi admitted there were 1 200 taxi renewal permits pending since April. These renewals need to be done every seven years.
“We admit, it is not fair for legitimate operators to wait so long, but if they wait until the last minute to renew their operating licences, they automatically get taken off the system and can only be reactivated by the national department. This is what is causing the delays,” he said.
There are also 5 000 new applications pending.
Vadi said someone merely going out and buying a taxi didn’t mean they would automatically be given a permit.
“It is not a God-given right – the issuing of permits is based on transport studies. Metros and municipalities are consulted on all applications and, if they feel the route is overtraded, permits will not be granted. Most established routes are already overtraded,” he said.
Vadi said taxis using Rea Vaya lanes would defeat the object of the rapid transit route, which allowed buses to travel faster and unhindered.
“If we allow the taxis on that route, we may as well scrap the buses as there would be serious congestion along those dedicated routes,” he said.
Vadi was surprised by the strike on Monday – only last week, he held a conference with all the taxi associations in an attempt to iron out problems.
On Monday the SA National Taxi Council distanced itself from the strike. Spokesman Bafana Magagula questioned its legality, saying his members were not striking. He was concerned at the intimidation of drivers who were not part of it.
JMPD Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar confirmed that traffic was back to normal on Tuesday morning.
The Star