Minister of Police, General Bheki Cele, paid a visit to the South Coast last week to address violence in the taxi industry, among other issues.
He said that from January to July – to date – 24 people had died in the taxi industry in the Ugu and Harry Gwala districts.
Therefore, it’s no longer a Department of Transport issue only, but a police one as well.
For this reason, the minister, along with acting MEC for Transport, Jomo Sibiya, met with taxi owners from the two districts at Ugu Sport and Leisure Centre last Thursday.
“Once a dead body is found, that is a crime scene and that is where the police will get involved, that is where I get involved. I say this because most people will ask why is the police department getting involved in taxi matters,” said Cele.
“Most of the women who are taxi owners did not choose to be owners, but had to step in because their husbands were killed. And they were killed by some of you here.”
He says he is ‘not scared’ of the taxi bosses and that he will say whatever he wants to say to them.
“I do not want to be followed by threatening messages to ask me what was I saying in the meeting,” he said.
“If I say something here and it doesn’t settle well with you, man up and face me, don’t wait for this meeting to be over and then send me messages or call me.”
“Most of you have blood on your hands, you are liars and cowards. Most of you here know exactly what is happening in this industry and you are the ones who hire hitmen to kill,” he roared.
Cele claimed that it has been said that there are associations that collect a R100 every day from each taxi, which amounts to about R14-million a year – and that money is not taxed by Sars; there’s no accountability or record anywhere because it pays for hitmen.
“Some of the money you use to buy taxis is from cash-in-transit heists that you do and then come here in this industry to clean that money.”
Cele also mentioned that this violence has gone as far as some people not sleeping at their homes because they fear for their lives.
The minister said he will come back in two weeks time to meet again with the taxi owners to now discuss how they will sort out these issues and find a way to stop them from killing each other.
Cele also mentioned that he is pleased that ‘Bhakede’ was sentenced to life in prison, because he was a member of the Saps and some of the taxi owners have complained that police are also doing dirty work.
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