Ill-treatment at Ramaphosa taxi rank
A 26-year-old mother of two has voiced her grievances about the way she was treated at the Ramaphosa taxi rank recently.
Sarah Mahlope claims that on February 28 a heated argument between her and the queue marshal at the rank took place.
Ramaphosa’s R18-million taxi rank officially opened
“I was at the taxi rank around 6am waiting in the queue to go to work. Eventually a taxi came and I sat in front with another woman, who was sitting in the middle seat next to the driver.
“When the taxi was ready to leave, I saw the passenger door opening and the queue marshal instructed me to get out of the taxi,” said Mahlope.
“I asked the queue marshal what was wrong and he insulted me, shouting that I came late to the rank and that I shouldn’t expect special treatment because I wasn’t his wife,” said Mahlope.
She said someone else was allowed to sit in her place.
Mahlope, who used to be a domestic worker in Comet, said she lost her job because of the queue marshal’s insistence that she forced herself into an overloaded taxi.
“The queue marshal did not respect me – he treated me like trash. I’m unemployed now and it’s his fault.”
The Advertiser spoke to the accused queue marshal, Patrick Malatjie, who dismissed all the claims against him.
“I forced her to get out of the taxi because she came late and forced her way into the vehicle. By law no one is supposed to sit in the space next to the driver,” Malatjie said.
Malatjie dismissed the claims that he let someone sit in Mahlope’s place.
Mike Sultan, who is the executive member of the Reiger Park Association, said they are aware of the matter and are still investigating it.
Delight You Passenger, together with Highway Ministry, last year provided taxi drivers and the executive team of the Reiger Park Boksburg District Taxi Association with training on customer care, safety and managing a business.
Catch your ride only at the taxi rank
