The Dolphin Coast Taxi Association (DCTA) has no business charging fees from public transporters and should stop taking the law into their own hands.
This has been made emphatically clear by Department of Transport, public transport deputy director Sibusiso Nhleko, who vowed to unleash Operation Shanela on the Dolphin Coast if the law is not obeyed.
The road traffic unit was busy with an operation on the South Coast last weekend, where more than 30 taxis were impounded for breaking the law.
In spite of this threat, the Dolphin Coast Taxi Association is defiantly saying they will continue to charge e-hailing and private taxis R700 per week for “security services”.
Nhleko told a meeting of the DCTA and private taxis at the iLembe Chamber of Commerce last Thursday that law enforcement should be handling compliance issues to prevent the taxis from taking the law into their own hands.
“No one should pay the taxi association to operate in Ballito or KwaDukuza. The Department of Transport is the only entity issuing operating permits, whether for scholars, tourists or any other public transport service.
Nhleko urged the association and e-hailing drivers to co-exist. The e-hailing council and taxi association will meet on Wednesday to find common ground and explore ways to collaborate.
Currently the DCTA charges 35 local e-hailing drivers R300 for a sticker and R700 weekly for “security”. Non-local drivers are barred from picking up passengers in Ballito, and those not paying face repercussions from the security company hired by the association to exclude “illegal drivers”.
After the meeting, DCTA spokesperson Siyabonga Ntombela said they were open to discussions but would not compromise on the weekly fee for security services.
“We are not extorting anyone. The money goes to the security company, and we also contribute. We don’t gain financially from the money paid by the drivers,” said Ntombela.
The problem began early this year, when private drivers who weren’t using e-hailing apps started soliciting clients at local malls, forming a “rank” and used seven-seater vehicles, positioning themselves in direct opposition to traditional taxis.
The drivers who follow the rules and use the apps are finding themselves caught in the middle.
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