Selby Bokaba
Owners of private vehicles making a quick fortune as pirate taxis in Soshanguve, outside Pretoria, have been dealt a blow after police impounded more than 50 of them.
Gauteng Transport MEC Khabisi Mosunkutu and his North West counterpart Frans Vilakazi last month announced the shutting down of taxi operations and the closure of ranks and routes in Soshanguve, Mabopane, Ga-Rankuwa and Winterveldt in a bid to stem the tide of taxi violence in those areas.
Fines of between R1 000 and R6 000 were issued to taxi operators who defied the government's order to stop operating.
Private vehicles - or "the pirates", as they are known in Pretoria's northern townships - took advantage of the situation and operated as taxis.
Soshanguve police spokesperson Piletji Sebola said police had impounded more than 50 "pirates" which had been operating illegally as they did not have a taxi permit.
Sebola said the impounded pirates were still locked up at Soshanguve police station and the owners faced a fine of between R1 000 and R6 000 to reclaim their vehicles.
"Taxi operations have been banned and anyone who operates a taxi service is in contravention of the law, and the vehicle will be impounded, whether it is a minibus or a private vehicle," Sebola said.
Taxi violence in the affected areas has claimed over 200 lives.