Minibus taxis impounded, operators held

LAW Enforcement officers in the province have been accused of targeting taxi operators during their operations.

This after eight minibus taxis were impounded and three taxi operators arrested during a joint operation by the provincial traffic officers and the police on the closed Paarl/Mbekweni Route B97.

An altercation between taxi operators and law enforcement erupted, with other taxi drivers blockading Jan van Riebeeck Road and the entrance to the Drakenstein Traffic Department.

Congress of Democratic Taxi Association (Codeta) spokesperson Andile Khanyi said the police and the traffic officers “violated their members” in Paarl and one of the officers shot at one of their taxis.

Police spokesperson FC van Wyk said during the impounding of the vehicles it was alleged that a taxi driver attempted to run over a traffic officer who in turn fired several shots at the vehicle, bringing it to a stop.

He said no one was injured and four suspects aged between 34 and 58 were arrested. One was released.

“The remaining three are facing charges of attempted murder and assault. They are due to appear in the Paarl Magistrate’s Court once charged.”

Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata) secretary Mandla Hermanus said Cata operators were neither involved nor affected.

“We will continue to respect the legal processes under way. We condemn all acts of violence.”

SA National Taxi Council provincial spokesperson Gershon Geyer said the council has condemned the behaviour of the few operators in Paarl.

Transport and Public Works MEC Daylin Mitchell said while there has subsequently been relative calm between the two taxi associations that contested the route, processes and joint operations have been put in place by an inter-governmental group led by the police and his department to ensure that the agreement signed by the parties was monitored and that the closure was strictly enforced.

“In the meantime, Cata and Codeta-affiliated parties have been participating in a formal arbitration process to determine who has rights to operate on Route B97 and other contentious routes in the area,” said Mitchell.

He said that process was nearing completion, with the last hearing conducted on October 8.