Taxis on a drive slow

Members of the Local Taxi Association (LOTA) took to the highway to voice out their grievances.

They drove slowly on the N4 Highway on Wednesday, August 20 to voice out their grievances with Witbank Taxi Association (WTA), which is the long distance taxi association.

They handed over a memorandum to officials from the Provincial Department of Transport, Mr A.M. Makgalemane and Mr S.A. Mbatha, who accepted the document on behalf of the MEC.

Mr Solly Vilane, chairperson of LOTA, said their main grievance was a dispute over a route with WTA.
Vilane said according to information they have, the registrar found that WTA operation are strictly long distance.

“In 2008 there was a route dispute between LOTA and WTA. The office of the registrar took a resolution on this dispute dated October 2008. It findings were as follows: LOTA operations are strictly local, that is confined within eMalahleni Municipality only. If found operating on any other route they should face the arm of the law. WTA operations are strictly long distance, which is from Witbank to outside eMalahleni municipality. Documents submitted to the Operating Licensing Board were found to be fraudulently obtained permits. WTA therefore has no authority to run the local operations,” reads part of the memorandum.

LOTA officials urged the two officials to urgently act on the matter to prevent fighting between the two groups.
LOTA demanded that the office of the MEC implements the resolutions that were taken by the registrar to remove WTA from LOTA routes within seven working days.

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