BY ERIC MATOME KGOMO
MIDDLEBURG: Following the spike of taxi violence that plagued the province recently, Mpumalanga MEC for Public Works, Roads and Transport, Mohita Latchminarain, have on Wednesday 5 May suspended taxi operation at the Nazaret Taxi Rank in Middleburg.
The closure of the taxi rank left hundreds of commuters stranded, however, later on the day, the department contracted the services of Thembalethu Bus Service, as an interim measure to provide transport services to commuters in the affected areas. Department Spokesperson, Cyril Dlamini, said the MEC has taken the decision after a meeting held on 4 May with top six taxi associations in the province, whereby Latchminarain raised serious concerns regarding taxi violence in the province and expressed her sentiments about the spike. “The MEC has eventually taken extraordinary measures to curb taxi violence in Middelburg by shutting down one of the town’s taxi ranks due to persistent conflicts between two taxi associations. This is after several attempts to find common ground between the two have proven unsuccessful,” Dalamini said. He added that last week the department announced the MEC’s intention to implement extraordinary measures as required by the National Land Transport Act no. 5 of 2009, which gives the Executive Authority powers to suspend operating permits. “The closure, which has already come into effect, only affects specific routes between Middelburg and Nazaret that are currently the main cause of conflict. Taxi operations will however continue in other areas within Middelburg that are not affected by the conflict,” he said. Dlamini indicated that the department is equally concerned about the implications of this decision, particularly towards commuters who are relying on taxis for their daily transport. “However, safety remains the key priority. In the meantime, the department is also investigating other alternative public transport to assist commuters while imposing strict measures,” he said. According to Dlamini, five minibus taxis have already been impounded in at the Nazaret Taxi Rank in Middelburg by the Department’s Transport Inspectorate Unit for failure to comply with the suspension of the operating permits.
“While the department continues to plead with the associations, strict measures will be imposed without fear or favour if the situation intensifies and becomes a threat to the pillars of the democratic rule,” he said. Dlamini notified commuters who will be traveling from town back home to make use of the Thembalethu buses that are stationed next to Middelburg Police Station in town. “These buses will also be made available in the morning and during the day for the duration of the suspension in various pickup points in all affected areas,” he said.
