KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi brings hope that private motorists and e-hailers will be protected from taxi associations.
Image: Facebook / SAPS
South African Ride Hailing Association (SARIDEHA) secretary-general Milithemba Mnguni said provincial police boss, Lt-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi's warning to taxi associations against the intimidation of e-hailing drivers, had given them hope..
Mkhwanazi, addressing the warring KwaDukuza and KwaMaphumulo taxi associations at the weekend warned taxi associations not to victimise private motorists who are giving lifts to hitchhikers and e-hailing drivers.
Mkhwanazi said police will act decisively against this type of intimidation.
A large number of e-hailing taxi drivers have been victimised or killed in what is believed to be attempts by minibus taxi operators to protect their business.
Mkhwanazi warned that taxi owners were not allowed to take the law into their hands.
Mkhwanazi said members of the public have a right to hitchhike, take a taxi or a bus.
“It is not you who is going to detect what a person should do, because once I find that there is an association that is stopping a car on the street or an Uber, I will arrest such a person,” Mkhwanazi told the taxi operators.
He said a security company involved in such an act would have its operating license and its guns confiscated.
“If association people want to know how strict the government is, you must victimise people,” said Mkhwanazi.
He said there was no one in the country who is above the law.
He called on taxi association members who are aggrieved by those running transport businesses without operating permits, to complain to the Department of Transport.
“It is not a member of the public’s role and responsibility to make sure that there is enforcement.
“Private citizens who stop [their cars] on the side of the road to give people lifts, they have a right to do that,” said Mkhwanazi.
He called on motorists and hitchhikers to report those who victimise them.
“They (victims) must get their particulars, details and memorise the registration number of the vehicle, so that when they report them anonymously we can to investigate,” he said.
He said if associations feel that If they feel that the department is failing to deal with their concern they must go to court to seek legal recourse.
“But that does not give you the right to go to the street to enforce the law because... they have no legal authority as the association,” said Mkhwanazi.
Mnguni said SARIDEHA hoped this could be applied throughout the country.
““Unfortunately, this has been allowed with impunity. We are encouraged by what the provincial police commissioner said, but we wish this could also be said by the national commissioner,” said Mnguni.
The South African National Taxi Council's (Santaco) provincial spokesperson Sifiso Shangase said the National Land Transport Act (NLTA) was explicitly in who should be involved in public transport..
“If you are in the space of transporting people for reward, you are obligated to have an operating license and that is not negotiable.
“This operating license is meant to prevent conflict. But there are also people who are now frequently ferrying people for the duration of the month, which we don’t see as giving a lift,” said Shangase.
bongani.hans@inl.co.za