Taxis impounded, operators unhappy

After the taxi industry shut down Port Shepstone last Thursday, blocking every entrance in and out of town, a second blockade occurred on the N3 in Durban last Friday.

These incidents resulted in a meeting in Durban last Sunday between the Department of Transport (DoT), Saps, the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) and other relevant stakeholders.

Santaco’s Ugu region chairperson, Lizwi Maphumulo, said they are unhappy with Operation Shanela, which operates under the DoT and has been impounding taxis.

Maphumulo said they don’t know Operation Shanela’s policy and its intention.

“We will have a meeting with our lawyers on June 11 so that we can present our case. They impound many vehicles without permits, but they are the ones who are not issuing the permits.”

Maphumulo said another challenge is that there are women in the industry, and some are affected because they are widows.

“The husband has died, and everything has to be transferred to the wife, but even that process takes long, and when Operation Shanela comes in, they seize their taxis too.”

Maphumulo believes Operation Shanela was asked to go to Margate because of an alleged feud there, instead, they scattered all over Port Shepstone and seized their vehicles.

A taxi owner who did not want to be named said they are sick and tired of Operation Shanela because it is costing them.

“If they dare impound one more taxi we will shut down Port Shepstone again, they have cost us a lot of money, and we are losing business.”

The DoT was contacted for comment, but none was forthcoming at the time of going to press.

The Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, met with all relevant stakeholders, including taxi operators and officials from the DoT, to resolve the impasse, especially as the general elections were being held this week.

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