Landmark agreement reached by Alex taxis

Alex’s two main taxi associations took an unprecedented step which, if it holds, may end a frosty business rivalry that often resulted in deadly confrontations involving innocent members of the public.

The Alexandra Taxi Association (Ata) and the Alexandra, Randburg, Midrand and Sandton Taxi Association (Armsta) signed a five-year joint operating agreement as a collaboration pact with Alex Properties, proprietors of the new Alex Mall due to open on 30 March in Tsutsumani.

The agreement is an attempt to curb potential conflict often associated with contestation for taxi routes as happened last year with the opening of the Mall of Africa in Midrand. The agreement, brokered by the Greater Alexandra Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Galxcoc) on the mall’s behalf, was signed by Ata and Armsta’s respective chairpersons, Vusi Mayaba and Thamba Budzwa in a ceremony witnessed by their executive members.

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It was also countersigned by the Provincial Department of Transport, Gauteng Traffic Police, Department of Community Safety, the police, Community Policing Forum (CPF) and the Alex Scholar Transport Association.

The associations expect it to promote peace and co-existence on the potentially lucrative new mall routes and the safety of the commuting public, and establish grounds for additional routes that will be added through a consultative process.

Admitting culpability for the long-standing feud, the chairpersons also attributed partial blame on failed mediation attempts by churches and the Department of Community Safety in the past.

Mayaba and Buzdwa agreed to have their members operate from the new and official mall rank initially for six routes they currently share, from Tshutsumani to Joburg via Balfour and Norwood, to Sandton, Fourways, Randburg, and Diepsloot. They intend adding the Midrand and Randburg routes, which they operate separately and they also intend to consider other routes.

Read: Councillors sing praises of the new Alex Mall which is set to launch at the end of March

Mayaba said the agreement would be a test of their conduct when they engage with authorities on the pending Rapid Bus Transit transport network, which will include the taxis.

He pleaded with stakeholders and the community to assist and make the agreement hold in the interest of saving innocent lives.

Budzwa urged for unity saying the mall was an opportunity for a gradual return to the past when the two associations operated peacefully while the cake was still small. “It should still happen now when the stakes are high and we stand to mutually benefit from the collaboration and other opportunities likely to arise in future,” he stressed.

CPF member, Nelly Maseko pleaded with the associations not to compromise the peace that she said had prevailed in the area since 2000. She urged for residents’ inclusion in any deliberations on public transport which may be contentious.\

Read: Alex Mall hopes to draw affluent Sandton folk to its doors

Galxcoc president, Mpho Motsumi hailed the agreement as groundbreaking and implored the associations to make it last as an example of a commitment to end bloodletting in the industry.

“Taxis and soccer, are the only two sectors Africans control and contribute to the national economy. Only they should unite, make them work and be proud of them,” Motsumi said.

Edited by Beryl Knipe

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