'Somebody is benefiting' from Soweto taxi feud, says Gauteng Transport MEC Diale-Tlabela

JOHANNESBURG - The Gauteng government believes that certain individuals are benefiting from a decade-long taxi feud which has claimed hundreds of lives in Soweto.

The dispute between the Nancefield-Dube West Taxi Association (NANDUWE) and Witwatersrand Taxi Association (WATA) once again flared up following a high court order which ruled in favour of WATA last week.

The rival associations have been at loggerheads over six taxi routes in Soweto, which are seen as highly profitable.

READ: Tensions brew as unresolved taxi route dispute in Soweto leaves commuters in fear

Who's benefiting from a decade-long taxi war which is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of people, including innocent commuters?

That’s the question the Gauteng Transport Department is trying to get to the bottom of.

MEC for Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela said that conflict between the NANDUWE and WATA taxi associations seems to have a trend.

"I have picked up a trend of these two associations as to when they start conflicts. It’s usually towards the Easter period or towards the December break."

She believes that someone is benefiting from the conflict.

"We have lost lives, we continue to lose lives. And somebody is benefiting from this. These are two elderly men running two associations. The members are not happy about what is happening, they want peace, they want calmness, they want to operate."

An arbitration process between the two associations as well as the government is set to take place next month.