Ballito residents demand action against taxi association intimidation
Despite the association's denials, reports of assaults and threats have increased.
Ballito residents are calling for urgent action against the taxi association they say is holding Ballito to ransom.
This was the main concern discussed at the Dolphin Coast Residents & Ratepayers Association’s (DOCRRA) annual general meeting at Salt Rock Country Club last Wednesday.
Since last Monday, there have been reports of a security company hired by the Dolphin Coast Taxi Association openly terrorising e-hailing drivers and residents in public.
The association has been accused of extortion, assaulting and threatening e-hailing drivers with guns, demanding only a certain number of drivers should operate in Ballito.
All of which the taxi association vehemently denies.
Taxi association spokesperson Siyabonga Ntombela confirmed the efforts to control the number of e-hailing drivers and to exclude non-local or drivers at affiliated with official e-hailing apps, but denied members were involved in any assaults or impounding vehicles.
“We have a list of local e-hailing drivers, and their vehicles have stickers. Non-local drivers can drop off passengers, but only our local drivers can do pick-ups provided there is an app request. We are working with a security company to keep illegal drivers away from our area. I believe they are the ones complaining,” said Ntombela.
Those who operate freely are the ones on the association’s list who pay up a weekly ‘protection fee’ of R700 to cover the cost of the security company hired to keep non-local drivers and unaffiliated operators out of Ballito.
Residents called on DOCRRA to intervene.
“Who is running this town? We can’t have people going around with semi-automatic weapons assaulting Uber drivers. They play a huge role in public transport in our town, which is a holiday destination. We have the right to choose our own mode of transport with our own money,” said one resident.
A restaurant owner said she uses Uber to get to her business and home, but is now experiencing difficulty getting around because drivers are scared to pick her up because of the intimidation.
“It is wrong that they can force us to use minibus taxis. They don’t even come near where I stay, and I am not comfortable riding a minibus taxi. I prefer Uber, that’s my right. Why is nothing being done about them? It’s time authorities do something about this. We can’t live in fear,” she said.
DOCRRA chairperson Deon Viljoen said they have kept a close eye on the unacceptable vigilante tactics.
“It was our understanding that the various security structures had this in hand, but after receiving feedback from our members at the meeting, it is clear that this situation has spiraled out of control and poses a serious threat and inconvenience to the Dolphin Coast community and our tourism sector.
“We are calling upon all relevant law enforcement and safety structures to take ownership of this problem, uphold their duty, and end this lawlessness,” said Viljoen.
He said the taxi associations must understand they do not have a monopoly on transport and residents will not be held to ransom.
“DOCRRA is consulting with all community safety structures, investigating legal action against the perpetrators, and will provide feedback to the community shortly,” said Viljoen.
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