Cape Town - Fighting taxi rivals the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata) and the Congress of Democratic Taxi Associations (Codeta) have reached an agreement which will see legal operating licence holders for routes to and from Mbekweni near Paarl, except for route B97, resuming services.
“All associations must instruct their members to return to service in line with the authorities issued with their operating licences and must do so in a manner that is safe for the public. The registrar’s office will send out a letter to all associations communicating this instruction. All routes will be monitored and action will be taken against associations and individual operating licence holders who are in breach of this instruction,” said Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula during a press briefing on Monday.
The announcement came after two drivers were shot and killed in separate incidents at the weekend.
This weekend’s shootings increased taxi-related murders to about 85 this year, with 26 people killed in July alone.
The impasse between Cata and Codeta about the route to Paarl even had UDM leader Bantu Holomisa and South African Federation of Trade Unions head Zwelinzima Vavi roped in to assist.
Mbalula said only legal operating licence holders will be allowed to run and will serve the full route from the authorised ranks and terminals when route B97 was opened.
“Should there be further acts of violence, all affected routes operated by the two associations will be closed for all minibus-taxi operations for a period determined by the MEC, and affected operating licences will be suspended. In addition, both associations will be suspended or deregistered by following the prescribed process.
“This will be done in the interest of public safety and other operators will be authorised to provide replacement services. Any other associations found to be involved in or promoting violence will similarly be suspended or deregistered by following the prescribed processes,” said Mbalula.
He said any association that henceforth affiliates to a region or so-called “mother body” outside of its geographical area will be suspended by the registrar’s office.
“Government will request the SAPS to open an inquiry in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act to investigate the ongoing violence and to prioritise reported cases. Law enforcement capacity and deployment will be reviewed and strengthened in the affected areas to ensure enforcement of all laws without fear or favour. Any allegations of corrupt activities or clear acts of favouritism on the part of law enforcement or regulatory officials will be investigated based on evidence submitted by complainants,” he said.
Mbalula said preserving human life was an overriding imperative that supersedes all else.
“It is our intention to return taxi operations to normality in the shortest possible space of time, with a proviso that the associations that are party to this violence take responsibility for ensuring responsible conduct on the part of their members.”
Cape Times