Feud over routes affects commuters more than operators
An apparent feud over territory between local bus services and taxi owners left commuters stranded recently.
LIMPOPO – Protesting drivers from the Tshitale Taxi Association blocked the entrance road to the area and to local shops to prevent Phadziri buses from operating.
Commuters, who have become collateral damage in this dispute, had no choice but to walk great distances to catch alternative transportation to get to work or run their errands.The public relations officer of the Tshitale Taxi Association, David Mulaudzi, said the association was concerned that “Phadziri Bus Services was starting to operate like taxis”.
“These buses do not stick to the authorised time frames that they are supposed to operate in but ferry commuters around any time of the day.”
Mulaudzi said that they had met with Phadziri’s management last year and agreed that they (Phadziri) would not operate in that area. “For the past 15 years, Do Light Transport used to operate in this area. Now Phadziri Bus Services came back without our consent,” he said.
He apologised to commuters for what happened and said they would resolve the problem with the bus companies. Left Mambirisa from Phadziri Bus Services, however, denied any agreement between Phadziri and the Tshitale Taxi Association that they (Phadziri) would not operate in the area. Mambirisa said they were “sick and tired” of the taxi association’s intimidation tactics.
“We are not operating illegally; we were granted permits to operate from Louis Trichardt Mulima to Soekmekaar at scheduled times,” he said.
A commuter from the area, Maria Mudzielwana, said most commuters prefer buses over taxis as it is safer.
“What the industry doesn’t realise, is that these fights affect us more than it affects the taxi operators.
“We are caught in the middle of the conflict that has nothing to do with us,” she said.
