The Department of Police, Roads and Transport in the Free State has impounded 52 taxis found operating without proper documentation during law enforcement operation held in Bloemfontein last weekend. This operation follows the amnesty period for taxi operators declared by the MEC for Police, Roads and Transport which came to an end on the 1 June 2011.
During amnesty period taxi operators were given an opportunity to surrender fraudulently acquired permits or operating licenses without being prosecuted. During this period operators were also encouraged to visit the department to check whether their documents are in good order or not.
The move by the department in its quest to remove all illegal taxis from our roads was executed mainly in Bloemfontein as part of a planned law enforcement operation which will be taken to other towns in the province at a later stage. During this operation 10 taxis were found to be operating with fraudulent permits or operating licenses. Impounded taxis were taken to Lengau testing center in Bloemfontein. Operators of the impounded taxis will now face the full might of the law as they have failled to make use of the amnesty period to surrender fraudulently acquired permits and also to check validity of their operating licenses.
The door is not closed to those operators who may still want to come forward to surrender fraudulently acquired permits or operating licenses or those who may want to give the Department information about operators who are in possession of illegal permits. The Department has appointed a team of forensic experts who are conducting investigations on fraudulently acquired permits/ operating licenses. Those taxi operators who may want to surrenderfraudulently acquired permits will be allowed to do so, on condition that they give full disclosure on how they obtained such permits. Taxi operators can surrender permits to Open Waters Advanced Risk Management Solutions offices at Libwest Building, Corner of President Brand and Zastron street in Bloemfontein
Enquiries:
Mr Zolile Walaza
Cell: 0824106516
Mr Saki Mohono
Cell: 0834298269
