Taxi protest brings CBD to a halt

Update

GEORGE NEWS - Impounding of taxis, a lack of permits and victimisation were given as reasons for last week's taxi unrest in George.

According to Arnold Pietersen, chairperson of Codeta Disadvantage Taxi Association in George, the protest on Friday 18 June was held because of the continued impounding of their taxis. "We also want our permits. The ones they promised to the late Xola Swapi," he said.

As part of the protest action, taxi operators used their taxis to block off the stretch of Cradock Street between Hibernia and Market streets, in front of the Go George transport hub.

Motorists had to make use of alternative routes, causing traffic to come to a halt in the CBD. The Go George bus service was also suspended as a precautionary measure, leaving many commuters stranded.

Last Thursday Codeta told George Herald journalist Eugene Gunning that they were unhappy because George Municipality had allegedly not reacted to a list of grievances that was handed to them recently.

Mawande Qhange, an executive member of Codeta, at the time said they gave their grievances to the municipality at the end of last month. "We gave them 14 days to react and they haven't. We won't sit still until we get answers," he said.

In reply to an enquiry about these grievances, municipal senior communications officer Athane Scholtz said that Codeta had been answered in writing on all the concerns they had raised in recent communications and that a representative of the organisation had collected and signed for the document.

Various emergency services at the blocked-off transport hub last Friday afternoon.

"All taxis drivers, irrespective of their affiliation, require a valid operating licence in terms of the National Land Transport Act before they may legally transport fare-paying passengers. The approval authority for these licenses is the Provincial Regulatory Entity (PRE) and not George Municipality. Vehicles that operate without such licence are therefore illegal and may be impounded," she said.

According to Pietersen however, they feel victimised. "We are being oppressed by the very municipality that needs to look after the needs of the people. We are not asking them for money, all we are asking for is a fair opportunity to do business and take care of our families.

There is a greater need for taxi transportation in George. We can provide services Go George can't. We are now being victimised by the traffic, police and municipality. This is a violation of our rights and to the community's freedom of choice. Our next step is to approach the Human Rights Commission as well as the Minister of Transport," Pietersen said.

The area in front of the Go George transport hub was inaccessible to motorists for several hours.

Operating in competition with Go George

According to George Municipality's communications manager, Chantel Edwards-Klose, their records show that Codeta George is currently not a registered association.

"The chairperson in question has been provided with correspondence advising as to what processes to follow to apply for consideration as either public transport operators or associations. All applications follow provincial processes as per legislation with inputs provided by the municipality, depending on public transport supply and demand in the particular area," she said.

"The municipality has been mandated by National Government to provide affordable, scheduled and accessible public transport in the form of the Go George bus service and has already come a long way in doing exactly that for a large portion of the George communities, with the remainder in different phases of planning. This has been achieved through concluded negotiations with all registered taxi associations in George."

Taxi's blocked off the area between Market and Hibernia streets last Friday as part of protest action. Photos: Kristy Kolberg