Taxi industry requires major shift
JOBURG - A paradigm shift is needed to improve the current state of the taxi industry.
This was according to the National Taxi Alliance’s spokesperson, Theo Malele, who was commenting on the police’s statement regarding taxi violence.
A total of 108 cases related to taxi violence remain under investigation in Gauteng, with 31 cases currently at different stages in court, police said.
According to deputy provincial commissioner for detective services Major-General Tebello Mosikili, 87 suspects had been charged in these cases dating back to 2006, with some awaiting trial in police custody and others out on bail.
On 20 February, a taxi driver was sentenced to 18 years in prison by the Johannesburg Magistrate’s court for shooting and killing a pedestrian.
Earlier in the same month, during a taxi association protest, pockets of violence and intimidation had erupted between striking and non-striking taxi drivers.
Dorljota Taxi Association chairperson Vusi Shabangu was also shot and killed in Dobsonville, Soweto.
Malele said taxi violence was often spurred by economic pressure, adding that it was indicative of a lack of political will to transform the taxi industry.
“The taxi industry was treated like the step-child of the transport department and there was insufficient effort to bring the industry on par with other stakeholders.”
Referring to the taxi industry’s notorious reputation, Malele said taxi drivers’ reckless behaviour was a trend all over the world.
However, he said, such lawlessness could not be condoned.
He advised other road users to report offenders to the authorities or to take note of the stickers on the vehicle, which indicated to which association the driver belonged.
Incidents could be reported to the relevant taxi association, which could take further action, he explained.
He admitted that taxi drivers lacked the knowledge to improve their service delivery, adding they should be exposed to educational programmes.
He said the Transport Education and Training Authority needed to be brought up to speed to address the challenges of the taxi industry.
