Operation Shanela impounds 64 taxis in Sheppie

The KwaZulu-Natal taxi task team and Operation Shanela impounded 64 taxis at the Port Shepstone Taxi Rank recently.

According to the provincial spokesperson for the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Thuba Vilane, the operation was to stabilise the ongoing taxi violence between two taxi associations in the Ugu District.

Last week, a taxi driver was gunned down in KwaNzimakwe by people posing as passengers.

Vilane said they generally take Operation Shanela to areas where they have been invited by the leadership of the taxi associations in that area. He added that they also take these operations to areas where they see that the situation is out of control.

“At the Port Shepstone Taxi Rank, we impounded 64 vehicles. All of this was done with the intention of creating stability after we received a number of concerns. This operation was done in partnership with the South African Police Services (SAPS) and Operation Shanela,” said Vilane, adding that they are hopeful that after the operation in Port Shepstone, there will be stability.

Vilane added that the taxi industry is very important in transporting communities, saying that is why they wish for peace and harmony in the taxi industry.

Also, the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) provincial spokesperson, Mduduzi Makhunga said they are also worried about the taxi violence in the Ugu District.

Makhunga said they were recently invited to the Ugu district by the regional SANTACO to discuss the ongoing problems faced by the Gamalakhe Taxi Association.