MEC Mamabolo granted order to avert taxi violence

Department of Roads and Transport 2020/07/15 - 22:00



Gauteng MEC Jacob Mamabolo was successfully granted an interdict against the Johannesburg Minibus Taxi Association in a bid to avert potential violence in the Johannesburg CBD.

The granting of the order represents victory for stability in the taxi industry and the commuting public.

An order was granted, interdicting the Johannesburg Minibus Taxi Association from preventing, intimidating or interfering with the taxi operations of the Johannesburg Bara Qwa-Qwa Transport Services Taxi Association (PTY) LTD) at the Johannesburg Taxi Rank corner Lewds and King George Street. The order is effective from Tuesday, 14 July 2020 until set aside by any other order that could be obtained by the Johannesburg Minibus Taxi Association or any other interested party.

As of 1 July 2020, the Johannesburg Minibus Taxi Association has prevented the Johannesburg Bara Qwa-Qwa Transport Services Taxi Association from using the Johannesburg Taxi Rank on corner Lewds and King George Street. Taxis belonging to the Johannesburg Bara Qwa-Qwa Transport Services Taxi Association were expelled by heavily armed men who occupied and took over control of their taxi rank.

The MEC intervened by having a meeting with representatives of both associations and even offered the parties a mediator to assist in resolving the matter, the Johannesburg Minibus Taxi Association, however, rejected this. Throughout, the MEC pleaded with the Johannesburg Bara Qwa-Qwa Transport Services Taxi Association not to take matters into its own hands and retaliate. This was because the MEC was going to approach the courts for an intervention.

MEC Mamabolo commended the Johannesburg Bara Qwa-Qwa Transport Services Taxi Association for full confidence in negotiations and the rule of law as opposed to those who resort to resolving disputes through the “barrel of the gun and the law of the jungle”.

“It was thanks to the maturity of the leadership of the Johannesburg Bara Qwa-Qwa Transport Services Taxi Association that we avoided the CBD of the City of resort Joburg  becoming a war-zone, which could have threatened the lives of members of the public, commuters and taxi operators. We are confident that law enforcement agencies will prevail over this gun-wielding and heavily armed gang forcefully and illegally occupying the taxi tank,” remarked Mamabolo.

MEC Mamabolo urged all parties to respect the law, especially the court order granted. He further urged leaders of the taxi industry to appreciate that the period of armed gangs and guns parading at taxi ranks is a thing of the past. The MEC further called on taxi industry leaders to swiftly begin a transition to the new normal of a smart gun-free taxi industry in the province.

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