Transport MEC says there are ulterior forces at play in local taxi war
Tension recently erupted between members of the Mankweng and Seshego taxi associations which led to commuters being stranded and three vehicles set alight.
POLOKWANE – During her address at the South African Taxi Council’s provincial elective conference last week, Transport MEC Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya said she believes there are ulterior forces perpetuating the conflict among taxi associations for their own nefarious gains.
Tension recently erupted between members of the Mankweng and Seshego taxi associations which led to commuters being stranded and three vehicles set alight. “As the department, we have a readily available task team responsible to attend to conflict that may arise.
Read more: VIDEO: Commuters left stranded during Seshego and Mankweng taxi stand-off
“I was surprised to see taxi drivers on national TV leading the R81 disruptions and making all sorts of allegations. The issues relating to routes, permits and operating licences are important and of a concern to us, but we don’t expect drivers to behave in the manner they were behaving. As the MEC, I do not have a mandate to attend to the grievances of a group of drivers, hence the suspicion that there are faceless people behind the protest and the destabilisation of our ailing economy.”
She commended the taxi council and the two associations for the manner in which they responded when the intervention team descended on the blockaded routes.
“I applaud you for opting for peace and to engage rather than to fuel the situation that had signs of extreme violence. It is regrettable that two taxis and a patrol vehicle were torched in the process, but your swift response calmed the tension and paved the way for talks that will surely bear solutions. I was informed that in their meeting with the task team, the associations committed to work in harmony pending the finalisation of the matter.”
Departmental spokesperson Mike Mariga confirmed that talks between the department and the two associations were still underway.
On the day the tension erupted the week before last, Polokwane Observer received word that operators from Mankweng had prevented taxis from Seshego from driving to Mall of the North which left commuters stranded at Thornhill.
Read more: Three taxis burnt as unrest continues in Polokwane
Frans Kgasago, spokesperson for the Mankweng Taxi Association confirmed that the taxis had been stopped but told Polokwane Observer that it was because they had been subjected to the same treatment from the Seshego association all week.
Ali Mothiba, spokesperson of the Seshego Polokwane Taxi Association (SPTA) refuted the claims saying they were caught by surprise when they were prevented from getting onto the Mall of the North route. Both associations confirmed that there wouldn’t be any transportation to the mall on that day.
Later that afternoon, in Devenish Street towards Nelson Mandela Drive, two taxis and a patrol vehicle belonging to Mankweng were set on fire.
Law enforcement was quick to attend to the scene along with officials from the Polokwane fire department who assisted in putting out the fires. Kgasago confirmed that the two taxis and patrol vehicle that were set alight belonged to their association.
“The private vehicle is our patrol car and the two taxis also belong to us. At this point no arrests have been made and we are still waiting to hear from the police on how their investigations are coming along.”
