The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) has intensified its campaign against the growing lawlessness of taxi associations in Mpumalanga.
During the most recent oversight visit by the Mpumalanga Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety to the SAPS provincial headquarters, the party once again raised the critical issue of illegal taxi patrols.
The Freedom Front Plus emphasised that no individual or organisation, including taxi associations, is above the law.
The arrogant attitude of leaders such as the Mpumalanga chairperson of the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco), Mr Fanyana Sibanyoni – who publicly asserted that the association has the right to stop motorists and prevent lift-sharing – has paved the way for the current anarchy on the province’s roads.
Taxi patrol groups are forcing motorists off the road using life-threatening tactics, demanding unlawful fines and employing violence to enforce a monopoly over transport routes.
Numerous vehicles and drivers are operating without valid permits, while intimidation and extortion are used to eliminate competition.
Although the MEC for Community Safety, Mr Jackie Macie, has undertaken to investigate the matter, words without deeds are meaningless.
The authorities’ reluctance to make arrests is emboldening these taxi groups to continue their violent conduct.
The Freedom Front Plus calls for the immediate disbandment of all unlawful taxi patrols, criminal prosecution of individuals involved in hijackings, intimidation and extortion, as well as a moratorium on new operating licences and the revocation of existing licences held by associations implicated in such unlawful activities.
South Africans deserve dignity and safety on public roads.
The Freedom Front Plus will keep the pressure on in the Legislature until the authorities realise that maintaining law and order is not optional – and that applies to the taxi industry as well.
