MEDIA STATEMENT

TAXI CONFLICT FINALLY RESOLVED

The conflict between the Maphumulo Taxi Association and Stanger Taxi Association in KwaDukuza, north of Durban, appears to be finally resolved.

This follows a day-long meeting between the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for transport, safety and security Mr Bheki Cele and the representatives of the above two associations in Durban yesterday which sought to address the taxi conflict in the area.

The meeting was also attended by various stakeholders in the taxi industry including the department of transport head Dr. Kwazi Mbanjwa, KZN police commissioner Hamilton Ngidi and the provincial taxi registrar John Kapueja.

The associations agreed on among other things, to stick to the arbitration process which started in December last year and that the Maphumulo taxi association should continue to operate in the long distance taxi rank which they have since vacated because they believed it was no longer safe to operate in it.

The associations also agreed that a task team that will include the SAPS, KwaDukuza Municipality, the department of transport and the Ministry of transport, safety and security should be formed. The task team will, together with the rank supervisor maintain stability in the area on a daily basis and report on a monthly basis to the MEC. The team which will be formed today will also ensure that the arbitration process which began last year is implemented. It was also agreed that police will maintain a high profile both in the Maphumulo and Stanger taxi ranks.

Cele said that he was pleased that eventually the two associations have smoked a peace pipe. However, he was concerned that all role-players in the KwaDukuza taxi conflict have made some serious violations of the arbitration award and all parties who attended the meeting agreed to this. The award stipulated that to resolve the conflict, a rank supervisor should be appointed on a permanent basis at the rank to provide rank infrastructure for both associations as well as buses. Delays in finishing the taxi rank have prompted the two associations including buses to use a single rank which has been the primary cause of the conflict.

"I would like the task team that has been appointed to report to me on a daily basis on the progress being made to address the conflict, which had claimed scores of people’s lives. If all this fails we will be forced to use various organs of the state to deal with the matter. It is not true that the government has failed to address this 24-year-old taxi conflict in KwaDukuza. The task team would play a crucial role in terms of taking decisions whenever a dispute arises between the two associations. Once they had succeeded in KwaDukuza they would move to areas like Greytown and Umzinto which had also experienced similar problems," said Cele.

The MEC praised members of both associations for the commitment they have shown in bringing peace and stability in the taxi industry in KwaDukuza. Their commitment to peace shows that they have had enough of the killings that have taken place in the area and they want to go back to their communities and continue to provide effective and efficient transport services to them. He warned agitators who continue to use hitmen (Izinkabi) to kill their rivals that the long arm of the law will soon catch up with them.

KZN police commissioner Hamilton Ngidi said that they had already established a provincial task team to investigate incidents of taxi violence that had been reported in KwaDukuza. The team will also be assisted by two police intelligence members to assist in the implementation of the arbitration award.

Ngidi said that a 24-hour telephone line that would be manned at the Durban North Area Office will be provided to ensure that information relating to Stanger and Maphumulo taxi associations was reported.

back