‘Taxi control’ vehicle allegedly victimises commuters
Commuters without money allegedly being forced to walk home by a vehicle marked 'Taxi Control'.
The rights and safety of people are allegedly being violated by a vehicle marked “Taxi Control” in an attempt to grant the local taxis in town the commuting monopoly in Randfontein.
Witnesses have reported seeing an older model Mazda with an orange light and the words “Taxi Control” written on the side of the vehicle, recklessly driving on the wrong side of the road to stop motorists giving lifts to people.
The people, who might not have taxi fare to make use of their services, often have to rely on the goodness of vehicle owning people to transport them home – apparently not on the “Taxi Control’s” watch who have been reported to even forcefully remove people from the cars and forcing them to walk.
A local business owner, who would like to stay anonymous, was still in shock when he phoned the herald one Friday in November.
“I was completely appalled at what I saw happening in Fedler Street one afternoon.” he said.
According to him he saw a vehicle picking up a woman. She got in and the vehicle only managed to drive a couple of meters before the Mazda approached the car, speeding head-on towards the vehicle. He then saw the driver of the “Taxi Control” vehicle get out of the Mazda, walk to the woman sitting on the passenger side of the vehicle and without warning pull her violently from the car.
“The woman fell on the ground from the force used by the bigger and stronger man. The lift giver was then chased away with a stern warning by the “Taxi Control” official,” the witness added.
More people were interviewed and confirmed that the “Taxi Control” vehicle do in fact operate throughout town in the mornings and afternoons. None of those people would give their names out of fear just saying that they have to walk when they can’t afford a taxi.
The herald contacted the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) head office in Pretoria only to find out if they were involved in deploying the vehicle in the area. A representative of SANTACO who refused to give her name said that they had no knowledge of the vehicle and that they are not affiliated with the vehicle.
The Leraba Taxi Association located in Fedler Street was also contacted about the vehicle. N.S. Tshabalala, the Secretary of the association, could however not be reached for comment.
