MEC Vadi to extend suspension of taxi services by Nanduwe & Wata for a further 3 months due to the never-ending fight

The never-ending battle between Nancefield Dube West Taxi Association (NANDUWE) and Witwatersrand African Taxi Association (WATA) forced the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport to impose a suspension of five Soweto taxi routes belonging to the two associations.

The rivalry between the associations has resulted in the loss of lives, with commuters being caught in the mix as well.

Public transport is the most used in Soweto and the closure of the five taxi ranks left many commuters struggling.

According to the department’s website, MEC Ismail Vadi intends to extend the suspension of taxi services by WATA and NANDUWE for further three months.

As quoted from a statement they released: “I intend to extend the extraordinary measures instituted on 13 July, which are aimed at stabilizing public transport services in Soweto, for a further three months as there is no agreement between the two associations aimed at normalizing the situation,” said MEC Vadi.

See full statement below:

The extraordinary measures – provided for in Section 91 of the National Land Transport Act (NLTA) 2009 – took effect on 13 July and would lapse on 13 August 2017.

This is as a result of the two associations unable to agree to conditions which urgently warrant consideration to extend notice of suspension of minibuses on the affected routes. Amongst the conditions are:

• An immediate removal of armed security companies on all taxi routes and ranks allocated to the two associations;

• A commitment to end all forms of violence and intimidation;

• An agreement that the two associations will conduct their taxi operations in terms of the provisions and conditions provided in our respective (original) Operating Licenses until the appeal by WATA is adjudicated upon by the Transport Appeals Tribunal nationally;

• Taxi operators affiliated to NANDUWE and WATA put visible stickers that are different from each other to distinguish them for law enforcement purposes.

The MEC said that “he has not received any assurances from the leadership of the two taxi bodies about restoring peaceful operations in the area”.

The affected taxi ranks and routes were shut down in mid-July due to ongoing violent conflicts between the two associations which negatively affected thousands of commuters.

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