GEORGE NEWS - About 40 people from the taxi industry were arrested yesterday afternoon in the George CBD when the standoff between the traffic and police officers and the local taxi industry got out of hand. 

The standoff started on Monday when the taxis went on strike in protest of impoundments and the non-issuing of taxi permits. Following long negotiations on Tuesday and Wednesday it seemed that all would be back to normal on Thursday, as it was agreed by all the role players that a committee would be established within seven days to plan the way forward.

Traffic swoop on Thursday 
But at sunrise on Thursday, the provincial traffic ghost squad swooped again and impounded another 6 taxis. This angered the owners and drivers and more than 100 taxis gathered at the GO GEORGE bus depot in York Street where the impounded taxis were parked.

The taxis blocked the road and the area was cordoned off from the circle at Hope Street right through to Fichat Street in the CBD.

A Pops official told the paper that taxi drivers were informed that impounding fees must be paid before taxis would be released.

ANC MPL Cameron Dugmore also tried his luck at mediation.

He added that unlawful actions wouldn't be tolerated. After about 8 hours of deadlock in negotiations to get the taxis released, the taxis were forced by the riot police to leave the depot and they headed up York Street under police escort. In the CBD the police used stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse protesters who they deemed to be threatening. Most of the taxis then parked at the taxi rank in the CBD - not taking on passengers, but also not heading home. At the time of going to press at 17:00 the taxi industry was convening a press conference at the taxi rank.

Go back! 
Taxi drivers and owners are angry that the provincial traffic police are operating in George and say they must go back to the cities and towns they hail from. They say that since the provincial ghost squads hit town on Monday, they have done more damage than good. 

Many other motorists have also complained about the arrogance and speeding of the provincial ghost squad drivers claiming they break more traffic rules than the George motorists. 

One of these ghost squad vehicles collided with a VW Polo yesterday morning at an intersection in Albert Street. The taxi strike are leaving thousands of commuters stranded or making their way to work on foot - the GO GEORGE buses are also not running.

Enforcing the law
Provincial Traffic Chief Kenny Africa, who was George Traffic Chief until 2010, said in a statement that the traffic department, law enforcement and the municipality have been acting within the permit of the law by enforcing traffic regulations.

"The Department has been working with the Municipality in order to engage taxi industry in George over the past few days. There have been two full days of intense negotiations with the taxi industry in order to reach an amicable conclusion of engagements with industry. The discussions with the taxi industry over the past two days have been cordial dealing with immediate concerns as well as historical issues and the Department is working very hard at dealing with these complex issues that don't have immediate solutions available. 

Taxi drivers in CBD on Thursday.

The engagements with the taxi industry are critical and the Department, together with the Municipality, and the Provincial Regulatory Entity are working together to engage the taxi industry to ensure that the concerns of the taxi industry are ventilated, but also that the complex and historical issues are managed appropriately and responsibly."

The Department of Transport said on Tuesday that 74 fines amounting to R154 600 were issued for various infringements and 11 vehicles were suspended. One taxi driver was arrested for driving under the influence. Yesterday taxi drivers claimed that about 17 taxis were impounded this week, but the number could not be confirmed.

Targeting taxis
The traffic blitz angered taxi bosses who had previously raised concerns about similar operations. In March this year, Idinga reported that since mid-February 40 taxis from Thembalethu had been impounded and many fines issued by provincial and local government. At the time chairman of Uncedo, Welele Mbudede, said that these operations were conducted deliberately to take taxis off the road. Taxi operators say the recent operations were the final straw.

The barbed wire at the ready.

At about 04:00 on Tuesday 14 August, a small group of people started throwing stones and burning tyres at Fourways stop in Thembalethu along Nelson Mandela Boulevard. Their stones were met by rubber bullets and tear gas. In the evening a traffic vehicle in zone 4 was torched.

Uncedo 
Speaking to the media at the Thembalethu taxi rank on Tuesday morning, Mbudede said they are also unhappy about the non-renewal of expired permits. They want the application process to be sped up.

"We have decided to strike today, not just Uncedo, but as taxi bosses and operators in George, as the authorities are not taking our demands seriously on the issue of permits. We have new members in the organisation who are still waiting for permits, and some members have been applying for renewals, but the process is very slow. As a result of this our taxis are being impounded on the roads, while we have applied for permits," he said.

Mbudede said they want the George Municipality to review the 2009 Council resolution which places a moratorium on the issuing of new permits. They also demanded the release of impounded taxis.

He said it costs about R2 500 to R7 000 to release an impounded taxi.

After the Wednesday meeting Chantel Edwards-Klose, municipal spokesperson said Municipal Manager Trevor Botha confirmed that the chairperson of the newly formed Section 79 GIPTN Committee, Basil Petrus, had noted that this committee should have been established a long time ago as longstanding issues would then have been addressed sooner. 

Many taxis parked at the taxi rank after the police forced them to leave the depot.

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