The MEC for Police, Roads and Transport in the Free State, Mr Thabo Manyoni, has declared the period April till 2 June 2011 as the months for the voluntary surrendering of fraudulently acquired Taxi Permits or Operating Licences in the province. This announcement was made by the MEC during the tabling of his Budget Vote recently.
The department has received numerous alerts from whistle blowers about systematic and endemic levels of fraud and corruption involving the illegal issuance of taxi permits and operating licences in exchange of monetary rewards to officials. As a result of this corruption we have a situation where one taxi operator operates more than one taxi with a single permit or operating licence.
In pursuance of the strategy to fight fraud and corruption, MEC Manyoni has declared the amnesty period in order to give operators a chance to comply with the law without being prosecuted for acquiring permits or operators’ licences fraudulently.
“I call upon the leadership of the taxi industry to support this campaign that seeks to clear our roads of illegal operators by encouraging their members to come forward, says the MEC”. He further stated that gone are the times when the taxi industry was unregulated and a law unto itself. Those taxi operators who fail to surrender illegal permits/operators licences must be prepared to face the full might of law when amnesty period expires.
Enquiries:
Saki Mohono
Cell: 083 429 8269
Mec Thabo Manyoni declares amnesty for taxi operators
Province
