Deadly Nyanga taxi violence 'all about money' - Santaco

Africa Melane is joined by the Provincial Chairperson of Santaco Western Cape, Mandla Hermanus, to discuss the recent escalation of taxi violence.

Listen below.

ALSO READ: 1 dead, 7 injured following taxi-related conflict in Cape Town's Nyanga township

A taxi boss and two taxi owners are among those who have been charged in connection with the shooting near a Nyanga taxi rank on Tuesday which left one dead and seven wounded.

Fifteen private security guards from KwaZulu-Natal also stand accused and appeared in court on Thursday.

Police said the guards arrested were employed by three different companies.

They are accused of being involved in a shootout between warring factions from the same taxi organisation in Cape Town and were allegedly hired to guard warring taxi bosses.

Hermanus says the incident emanates from one particular association.

"It's got nothing to do with operations in that association, but everything to do with money that is being collected and who controls those monies and what those monies get used for."

- Mandla Hermanus, Provincial Chairperson - Santaco Western Cape

Hermanus says it is a growing phenomenon across the minibus taxi industry.

Being unsubsidised, associations find ways to raise funds so they can run their operations, he says.

He adds that  'big bosses' are taking over and using money for their interests.

"You get people who see an opportunity to control those funds and then when members of the association demand accountability and then problems start.

- Mandla Hermanus, Provincial Chairperson - Santaco Western Cape

"You find out that these monies are no longer used for their intended purposes of assisting members."

- Mandla Hermanus, Provincial Chairperson - Santaco Western Cape

Would more regulation and documentation not address some of these issues, asks Melane?

Hermanus says the biggest challenge is how the money is collected.

"You are talking cash that's being collected, so it's not very easy to have all the necessary records. I believe the best solution would be to bring an end to these collections."

- Mandla Hermanus, Provincial Chairperson - Santaco Western Cape

ALSO READ: Police probing source of 20 firearms seized after taxi-related shooting in Nyanga

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Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.