UPDATE: Majola Taxi Rank closed for foreseeable future
Following the taxi violence which saw three people killed on Wednesday, the Majolla Rank has been closed, requiring commuters to use the Duduza Rank or make alternate travel arrangements.
Gauteng MEC of Transport, Ismail Vadi, has closed the Majola Taxi Rank (across from Ekhaya Mall), with immediate effect, until negotiations between the involved parties are concluded and an agreement is reached.
MEC’s spokesperson, Melitah Madiba, says the raxi rank will be closed until the association resolves its internal differences.
“No taxis will be allowed to operate from the taxi rank and law enforcement will be stationed at the rank,” she says.
This has not left commuters stranded provided they can get to the Duduza Rank which is located across the road from the Majola Rank on the corner of Majola and Thema roads and services the same routes.
However, commuters who live Tsakane are unable to get to this rank or commute locally as no taxis are operating in Tsakane and they are therefore stranded within Tsakane.
Wednesday
Tsakane – Brakpan Police spokesperson Captain Pearl van Staad confirmed two taxi drivers and a commuter died and seven people were injured during a shoot-out in Brakpan this morning.
“Seven heavily armed men were arrested and the weapons were confiscated by the police. The men were charged with attempted murder and murder,” she added.
Also read: Two men were shot and killed in Tsakane in a suspected taxi violence incident today
The strike started on Monday.
The Majola Taxi Rank’s gates were locked, with no sign of taxis in sight.
According to a reliable source, who didn’t want to be named out of fear for his safety, the strike is a result of the ongoing battle over taxi routes.
It is alleged that this morning a convoy of illegal taxis, packed with drivers from Tsakane and escorted by the police, drove to the Greater Brakpan Taxi Association offices and started shooting.
Commuters had to travel to neighbouring townships to access connecting transport to make it to their destinations.
Commuter Martha Nhlapho says on Tuesday they managed to find a taxi in Tsakane, but while driving on Geluksdal Road another Quantum and bakkie approached from the opposite direction.
Also read: Committee meets in Springs to discuss violence between Uber, Taxify and metered taxi drivers
“They stopped in front of our taxi and before we knew it a group of men armed with guns jumped out of their taxi and marched in our direction.
“We had to run out of our taxi to the nearby bushes for safety while they confronted the taxi driver.
“They were very angry that he was working while they were all supposed to be on strike,” she says.
Efforts to get comments from the two rival groups failed.
Last month, two men died and another was injured during a taxi violence-related shoot-out on Ndaba Street.
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