Gauteng MEC for Public Transport and Roads Infrastructure Jacob Mamabolo has dissolved the executive committees of both the Witwatersrand African Taxi Owners Association (WATA) and Nancefield Dube West Taxi Association (NANDUWE) following deadly clashes that have resulted in the murder of at least two people.
Two NANDUWE squad members were shot dead near Nancefield Hostel, Soweto on Tuesday, 15 September 2020. The associations have been engaged in a scuffle over routes in the south of Johannesburg.
“I am deeply dismayed by the latest incident which resulted in the spillage of blood. We cannot allow the taxi industry to turn our province into the capital of murder and violent gangs” said MEC Mamabolo.
MEC Mamabolo has offered his condolences to families and loved ones of the two men who were killed and has called on law-enforcement agencies to spare no effort in capturing those behind the killings.
The MEC is empowered by law to place taxi associations involved in violence under administration.
The North Gauteng High Court recently ratified an agreement between Gauteng’s major taxi structures, the Gauteng National Taxi Alliance (GNTA) and the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO-Gauteng), giving the MEC powers to dissolve taxi associations involved in acts of violence.
“We will not be deterred in our efforts to modernise this industry so that it takes its rightful place as part of a safe, efficient and integrated public transport system” said Mamabolo.
For more information, contact the Department of Roads and Transport’s Melitah Madiba on 073 644 9935 or Theo Nkonki on 082 719 6404.
E-mail: PressOffice.gpdrt@gauteng.gov.za
