Protest: Seshego taxi drivers lament ‘unfair’ impounding

POLOKWANE – The Seshego-Polokwane Taxi Association (SPTA) says it is unfair that their taxis are being impounded when forming illegal sub-ranks, while for the same disregard of the law, there have for years not been any consequences for taxis of the Moletjie Taxi Association.

SPTA operators parked their vehicles in protest outside the Polokwane Traffic Department on Friday morning, blocking off parts of Vermikuliet and Witklip Streets.

Traffic officials are on the scene at the Polokwane Traffic Department after a large amount of taxis blocked Vermikuliet Street this morning. The reason for the blockage is unknown. Motorists are advised to use alternative routes in and out of Ladanna. This is a developing story. pic.twitter.com/ybCkWXP09W

— Polokwane Observer (@PolokwaneObserv) August 11, 2023

The blockade, however, was swiftly cleared by Polokwane traffic officials within half an hour of the start of the protest.

SPTA spokesperson Ally Mothiba said their taxis are confiscated randomly on the corner of Vermikuliet and Mika Street in Ladanna, which is a detour from their agreed upon route, between 05:00 and 08:00, yet the same rule of law is not applied to the MTA taxis who also form a sub-rank on the corner of Market and Excelsior Street in the CBD .

“The Moletjie taxis have been transporting commuters for years and poach our customers but their vehicles are not impounded,” he said.

This week, BONUS reported that the silent conflict between the two associations turned violent last week when several Seshego drivers confronted those from Moletjie for apparently illegally transporting commuters on the township’s routes.

The Moletjie Taxi Association, however, declined to comment on this morning’s blockade.

The spokesperson for the Polokwane Muncipality Thipa Selala committed to respond at a later stage.

The area has since been cleared.