Drivers land in trouble for helping commuters
A supposed good deed has backfired.
This is after volunteers in Windmill Park recently decided to use their private cars, at a charge of R5 per passenger, during the festive season, to provide transport for residents in the wake of taxis being forced to halt operations due to the ongoing taxi violence.
However, this gesture of goodwill caught the eye of the Gauteng Traffic Police, who impounded 12 vehicles for allegedly operating illegally as taxis.
A resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “After the government stopped the taxi operations, many people had to walk quite a distance to catch a taxi, so we decided to use our personal vehicles to help them, because it was not safe on the streets, specially for women and children.
“The criminals around Windmill Park have been taking advantage of commuters who have to walk long distances, which has resulted in several cases of rape, murder and armed robbery. People don’t feel safe anymore.”
The resident said that, on Monday, January 12, the Gauteng Traffic Police raided Windmill Park and impounded 12 vehicles.
“We were told to pay R1 500 for each vehicles to be released, but we do not have money, as some of us are unemployed,” he added.
According traffic police spokesperson Busaphi Mxumalo, the cars were impounded because they opened an illegal taxi rank in Windmill Park.
“The taxi violence between Windmill Park, Reiger Park and Vosloorus has not come to an end and what the community members were doing will lead to more violence,” he said.
”The vehicles won’t be released if they refuse to comply with the law.
“People cannot just wake up in the morning and choose to assist the community with transport if they are not registered with a taxi association.
“Windmill Park does not have a taxi rank at the moment, so police officers are monitoring the area on a daily basis.
“The community members simply don’t have permission to operate a taxi rank.” – @NalediBoksburg
