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Taxis parked at a taxi rank.
The E-hailing Council in KwaZulu-Natal says an agreement has been reached with the KwaDabeka Taxi Association to regularly meet in future to deal with problems as they occur.
The KwaZulu-Natal Transport Department set up the meeting with the two bodies after an incident earlier this week when taxi drivers and owners allegedly assaulted e-hailing drivers. A shot was also fired at one e-hailing driver’s vehicle.
Tensions have subsided in KwaDabeka near Pinetown, following the assault of e-hailing drivers, allegedly by taxi drivers. This comes after a constructive meeting between the KwaZulu-Natal E-hailing Council and the Clermont and Kwadabeka Taxi Association.
The police have taken 15 taxi drivers and owners in for questioning following the attack. The secretary general of the E-hailing Council in KwaZulu-Natal – Sthembiso Khanyezi – says the meeting gave both organisations a platform to present their cases and clarify how e-hailing works.
“All parties were heard and their complaints were analysed, and we believe that the negotiations will pave the way and peace in the local industry. We are looking forward to the next meeting, where we will be able to articulate how to forge a strategy of peaceful operation within the location.”
The Secretary of the Clermont and KwaDabeka Taxi Association – Sbusiso Khenyezi – is satisfied with the agreement to hold roadblocks to root out illegal operators.
“I can say it’s 50/50, the reason being that there are some things that were said that we don’t agree with, but the way forward we will have joint road blocks which will include RTI, SAPS, and subdivision Hlokomela in order for us to get those illegal operators off those routes.”
Meanwhile, KwaZulu-Natal Transport Department spokesperson Ndabezinhle Sibiya has described the meeting as constructive.
“We agreed that as we move forward, we will have multi-disciplinary roadblocks that involve all law enforcement agencies to root out criminal elements, and we agreed that we must make a distinction, and they are legal e-hailing drivers with an app. It was agreed that only SAPs will conduct road blocks and deal with those who create havoc here.”
Sibiya says come October this year, the Land Transport Act will be gazetted, which will regulate the industry. I am Khalesakhe Mbhense in DBN.
