Lawless taxi ranks could face closure
MIDRAND – Provincial Police have said they will consider closing taxi ranks, following violent clashes between rival taxi associations in Midrand.
Alexandra Taxi Association (ATA) has distanced itself from the shooting that resulted in one fatality with five people injured on 19 April at 5pm.
The association’s public relations officer, Jabulani Ntshangase said they heard about the shooting from the media. “We are completely distancing ourselves from that incident. None of our squad cars were even there,” said Ntshangase.
Ivory Park Taxi Association (IPTA) treasurer, Yster Mokgoswane, said they believed that they had a strong case against ATA. “Our members know who shot at them and, obviously, the shooters would not admit to it. However, we will let the law take its course in this case,” said Mokgoswane.
“They just want to chase us away from our route.”
In the meantime, it is business as usual at Halfway House taxi rank where IPTA taxis pick up commuters. IPTA patroller, Zakes Manamela said, “The main issue here is that ATA wants Ivory Park Extension 2 commuters to take two taxis. Once for a trip from Alexandra to Midrand CBD and then again from the CBD to Ivory Park.”
Manamela said his association already had taxis in the township that would drive straight to Alexandra without going through Midrand. “Why should we force people to come to town if they don’t want to?” he asked.
On the morning of 20 April, following the deadly shooting on K101 and Allandale Road, the patroller and fellow taxi drivers were at work and it was business as usual. “We are all adults. This could be resolved by talking. No sane person wakes up one day and just thinks, ‘today I’m gonna put commuters lives in danger’,” said Manamela.
Mokgoswane said it was clear that they would have to go back to the negotiation table with ATA. “In 2014, following the death of an innocent driver who was caught in the crossfire, we negotiated and even absorbed three of their [ATA’s] taxis into our association so that they may also use the K101 route,” he said.
Gauteng Provincial police spokesperson Major Mack Mngomezulu said this dispute between the two taxi associations had gone on long enough. Ironically, he shared Manamela’s views. “Taxi owners are adults. They need to sit down and sort out their differences. Should this continue we will consider closing down the affected taxi ranks,” said Mngomezulu.
