Ga-Rankuwa taxi operators upset over impounding of vehicles

Aggrieved taxi operators in Ga-Rankuwa, Pretoria, have slammed the impounding of their vehicles over permit issues.

They say the police has been doing this since 2008.

Secretary of the Ga-Rankuwa United Local and Long Distance Taxi Association, Phillip Letlape, says that despite an agreement with police to exempt local taxi operators from penalties, several of their taxis were seized over the long weekend.

“Our agreement was, every time they come to us for a special operation, they will exempt the issue of permits, but everything else we will be arrested for; we are fine with that. Surprisingly yesterday, another unit called Taxi Unit, came to Ga-Rankuwa and arrested 20 cars for lack of permits. The manager says because they were not part of the agreement regarding permits, they are not bound by it,” says Letlape.

At least five taxi drivers were shot at yesterday with rubber bullets and assaulted by police. Two of them were arrested for allegedly inciting violence.

The taxi drivers claim their group has been unable to obtain permits for their vehicles for years due to concerns with Section 66 of the National Land Transport Act.

The drivers refuse to stop working, citing a necessity to feed their families.

The taxi operators say they were peacefully protesting the impoundment of their vehicles when police officials opened fire on them.

Michael Majeke, a local taxi driver who witnessed the incident, says they’ve had enough of being told to pay fines for missing permits.

“We needed for our voices to be heard. We are tired of having our taxis seized by the police and being requested to pay a lot of money every week. It’s too much,” says  Majeke.

Pieter Magagula, one of the taxi owners from the Ga-rankuwa United Local and Long Distance Taxi Association who was also present at the incident, says some drivers required medical attention and that some of their vehicles were also damaged.

“One of the drivers was assaulted by police and he bled through his ears and is now limping as a result. Another one was shot on his back with rubber bullets and they even nearly hit me too with the rubber bullets. One taxi’s window was also shattered because they hit it with rubber bullets,” says Magagula.

He says it’s unfair that they were attacked when all they’re trying to do is put food on the families’ tables.

The taxi drivers protest comes as the country prepares to commemorate Workers Day on Thursday, with some claiming that they should be appreciated for their contributions to the community as labourers rather than being restricted as if they are a distraction to society.

Madumo claims that their group, which employs Avanzas and Ventures to transport local commuters inside the township, has been unfairly denied permits, and it is costing them a lot of money just to get by.

“They only had specifications for long distance taxis, which are usually Quantums. We asked them to give us specifications for local cars because we can’t use Quantums for short distances around the township. They then said the government doesn’t have specifications for local cars. They even told us that they are just following the law and that they have to impound our cars due to lack of permits,” says Madumo.

He claims that the police officers who approached them claimed to be following Tshwane by-laws, which they claim diverge from the national government’s legislation for public transport.

The drivers believe the police’s current behaviour is unconstitutional.

One taxi driver, whose vehicle was confiscated while travelling with his wife and children, has criticised the police for being reckless after leaving them on the street to find their way home.

The driver, who requested anonymity for fear of repercussions, says he feels degraded following his ordeal yesterday.

“I feel like it’s unfair because I need to put food on the table for my family. On Sunday
I was travelling with my wife and kids en route to a wedding, then the police stopped us and requested that my wife and kids get out of the car. When I asked them why they did that, they told me they want my permit. I tried explaining to them that our cars are unable to get permits but they refused to listen to me. They then dumped us on the side of the road and proceeded to impound my taxi,” says anonymous. Written by Odirile Rabolao