The Department of Transport (DOT) has mandated the Greater North Region to assist in overseeing that operation runs smoothly while the department is trying to resolve the tension clouding iNdwedwe and district taxi association.
This is after the department had a meeting that was held today (6 February 2012) at Mtshebheni Police Station. Almost half of the taxi operators that were present at the meeting were found to be illegal operators, as they were not in the department's database. The resolutions were that the association should, in a meanwhile clean out their current database, verify it members and submit legitimate names to the department.
The department wants to stage another meeting next week with the association and South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) with a view to elect interim structure and leadership. The department has resolve in assigning the Greater North Region to take over the functioning of the association whilst they are still trying to resolve the matters.
According to the government policy it states clear that the associations should have ten executive members. The Ndwedwe Association only has four members with the Deputy Chairperson arrested last week. It is alleged that some of the tensions within the association emanates from the fees that are collected at the ranks everyday.
KZN MEC for Transport Community Safety and Liaison, Willies Mchunu also condemn the killing of Bheki Mkhize (27) and Zamokuhle Shange (31) . It is alleged that the two was killed at Makholwe (Mbumbulu). They were found with multiple gun wounds in their white Ford Ranger. The two deceased were illegal operators under iNdwedwe and District association.
MEC Mchunu expressed his shock over these developments taking place at Ndwendwe association. "I want to condemn the killing of these operators. Killing has never resolved any issue. I want to appeal to all operators to keep calm in light of tensions around. The police are still investigating the matter and they are working non stop to get to the bottom of this. I want to appeal again to all the operators to respect all processes started by the department. We are however optimistic that we will find a long lasting solutions to end this conflict," said Mchunu
Issued by:
Kwanele Ncalane
Cell: 079 699 5755 / 073 803 1462
DOT intervenes to resolve tensions at Ndwendwe
Province
