Cape Town - Angry Citrusdal residents have threatened to stop using taxi services in the community if taxi operators continue with the alleged use of violence to force their taxis to be the mode of transportation for seasonal farmworkers.
Residents held a demonstration outside the Clanwilliam Magistrate’s Court on Monday morning in support of two grieving families who lost their loved ones in transport service-related violence.
Two bus drivers, aged 34 and 43, were killed in Riverview at a pick-up point of farmworkers last Wednesday.
A day later, suspects aged between 27 and 41, who are linked to a taxi organisation in the area, were arrested in connection with the incident following a joint police tracing operation.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila confirmed that Mohan Mofetoli, Rakhele Mkontwana, Kabelo Maoetlane and Vuyisile Ngabi made their first court appearance on a murder charge.
Their case was postponed to August 24 for bail application with the suspects remanded in custody.
Petrus Brink, the chief executive of Citrusdal Advice Office, a paralegal services NGO which also assists with community issues, said residents were angry and concerned about the threats allegedly brought by taxi operators.
“The two men had families to feed and left behind young children. They were busy sanitising and measuring the temperatures of the workers before getting them on the bus. The suspects pretended to be workers of Mouton Citrus when they shot and killed both drivers.
“The community demands no bail. Some people have suggested that the taxi industry services be abandoned while others are calling for the troublesome ones to be chased away from the community. The various services of transporting seasonal workers to various working places of Mouton Citrus are under threat,” said Brink.
According to Brink, taxi operators have been negotiating with farmers to contract them instead of a bus company and when they didn’t get their way, tensions started.
“While the arrests have been welcome, the demand is for the police to further investigate and arrest the bosses behind this.”
South African National Taxi Association (Santaco) Western Cape spokesperson Nazeem Abdurahman condemned the incident and is expecting to visit the area on Thursday.
“As Santaco, we distance ourselves from such alleged behaviour that places the lives of people in harm’s way. The taxi industry has just seen a sense of stability with a peace deal recently signed. We don’t want more violence in the name of taxis in the province.”
Cape Times