SANTACO supports 6-month taxi rank shut down if it results in lasting peace
SANTACO in Gauteng would be partially supportive of the closure of taxi ranks for six months if it results in a lasting solution, says the association’s Midday Mali.
702 and CapeTalk's Africa Melane speaks to a Midday Mali, Gauteng Chairperson of the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO).
Listen below:
Since January, 59 people have lost their lives in taxi violence in Gauteng with 30 deaths in March alone.
A taxi marshal belonging to the Witwatersrand African Taxi Association was among three marshals who were shot and killed in Mofolo, in Soweto this week.
Gauteng transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela has said she would shut down taxi ranks in the province for six months to address the violence, if it does not stop.
"The industry, SANTACO, here in Gauteng - the Department of Transport, particularly the MEC, saying she's going to close the ranks for six months; we don't have any option ... as long as it will bring a lasting solution to the conflict and killings that's been happening in Soweto."
- Midday Mali, Gauteng Chairperson - SANTACO
Mali notes that closing taxi ranks for six months would have a 'bad impact' on those who depend on the taxi services and those employed by the Association.
"It is going to have a bad impact on our communities, a bad impact on operators... the industry has employed a number of people in that area - drivers, people who are working around the taxi rank, people employed by the association. It will have a bad impact but what is key and important is that we are assisting to deal with the conflicts."
- Midday Mali, Gauteng Chairperson - SANTACO
Mali believes a thorough investigation to find the source of the conflict is needed.
"A thorough investigation in the Department itself is needed... how did the Department issue the rules to the two associations with the same route? Secondly, a thorough investigation on what the law enforcement authority is doing in Soweto and the province of Gauteng as a whole is needed..."
- Midday Mali, Gauteng Chairperson - SANTACO
"The intention of the government of Gauteng shouldn't just be to say let's look into the issue of closing the rank - in that period of six months - what is going to happen? Because not all the operators are involved in the killings and in a position to say they are benefiting from those conflicts. So, therefore, justice should be done."
- Midday Mali, Gauteng Chairperson - SANTACO
"Court orders were issued... in terms of the route-related issues but those court orders were not implemented so that means the arms of government are not working hand in glove..."
- Midday Mali, Gauteng Chairperson - SANTACO
"Where is law enforcement? Where is the intelligence in the country when the people are dying in the way they are dying?"
- Midday Mali, Gauteng Chairperson - SANTACO
Mali notes that SANTACO is talking to necessary stakeholders about the conflict and restoring peace in the taxi industry.
"We are sitting and talking to the associations affiliated to us to comply with the processes. When there are issues, it starts internally with us... if we feel it affects government directly, we escalate it to government... we also sit with government to come up with solutions and resolutions to resolve the conflict."
- Midday Mali, Gauteng Chairperson - SANTACO
"Any processes that are going to be started by the government while the ranks are closed; let's comply and submit what needs to be submitted... we're always preaching unity and peace in the province so that our commuters should be safe, drivers should be safe, operators should be safe because all these killings are affecting the industry negatively. So therefore, we will address our people and say let's comply and talk to the government to open up the processes that will bring everlasting peace."
- Midday Mali, Gauteng Chairperson - SANTACO
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the conversation.