Desist from destroying people’s livelihoods: warns Boksburg taxi operators

Taxi operators in Boksburg say the widespread unrest in the country is affecting them financially.
For that reason, they have made it their mission to support law enforcement agencies in protecting local businesses against what they describe as thuggery.

The Vosloorus and Boksburg District Taxi Association confirmed their industry has started to feel the pinch as looters continue to ransack local businesses, causing many others to shut their doors as a precautionary measure.

This is after many parts of the country, including some areas in Ekurhuleni, saw sporadic looting and unrest over the last few days following the incarceration of the former president, Jacob Zuma.

Also Read: SA looting: We are losing more than money, says economist

While the mass looting and riots reported in other parts of Boksburg have not yet spilled over into shopping centres in central Boksburg, the Advertiser observed the closing of several businesses between July 12 and 14 as precautionary measures.
The businesses that temporarily shut their doors included the East Rand Mall and many others in the Boksburg CBD, Boksburg North areas and Witfield.

Speaking to the Advertiser, Paul Magolego, PRO for Vosloorus and Boksburg District Taxi Association, said drivers have seen a drastic decrease in the number of commuters.
The taxi operators pointed out that most of their passengers are people who work and do their shopping in these affected businesses; therefore, the closure or attack on them meant the taxi industry is also left with fewer people to transport.

“We’ve mobilised our members to safeguard some of the shopping centres against looters,” said Magolego.
Edward Mphaphuli, one of the drivers operating between the East Rand Mall Taxi Rank and Vosloorus, said the situation has left him and fellow operators feeling totally devastated, adding that such criminal activities are not only affecting the targeted businesses but are destroying jobs and consequently affecting the taxi industry.

Taxi operators warned they are not going to fold their arms and look on in silence should criminals attempt to rob them and their customers of their livelihoods.

“In the township fuel and food has already become scarce, and people are now forced to travel to other areas far from home to get fuel and food,” explained Mphaphuli.
Another taxi operator, Justice Khoza, echoed Mphaphuli’s sentiments, saying the riot is gradually destroying their job and that of their commuters.
“In this situation, how are we supposed to make enough money to pay the monthly instalment for the vehicles we still owe the banks? We arrived here in the mornings and wait for almost the whole day to get at least one trip because many people are sitting at home not travelling to work and not doing shopping.
“This is clearly affecting the economy and will scare potential investors. As a result, we are all going to find ourselves without jobs.”

Meanwhile, taxi operator Simon Simelala reminded looters the people who will suffer the most due to the unrest are the very same perpetrators of the looting, as well as their families and fellow community members.

“How are we going to support our children when we destroy the hand that feeds us? Many people will be left without jobs because of these criminal actions,” said Simelane.

The operators appeal to those with intentions to loot to stop these criminal activities because it’s not taking the country anywhere and will not bring favourable change to the country.

Another operator, Kleinbooi Makuwa, who works at the East Rand Mall Taxi Rank, said: “These violent protests have impacted our earnings because on normal days we would transport four more loads than now.

’What’s painful is that with the little income we are earning we still need to deal with the repayment of our taxis every month.
“Since lockdown was implemented last year, things haven’t been the same in our industry. Now with the protests, things have gone from bad to worse.”

Shopping centres, including Dawn Park Mall, Chris Hani Mall, and foreign-owned shops in the townships were extensively looted and vandalised in the ongoing unrest, which first broke out in KwaZulu-Natal.

Also Read: WATCH: Sporadic violence and looting spread to Boksburg shopping centres