KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Mr. Willies Mchunu, has set up a new enforcement and monitoring team to maintain peace and stability in Ntuzuma taxi operations.
The latest announcement by MEC Mchunu follows incidents of violence and shooting allegedly between Ntuzuma and Piesang River taxi associations. The two associations have been at loggerhead following disputes over who has a right to operate the Nhlungwane to Bridge City shopping centre route.
On Tuesday and yesterday, Mchunu convened an urgent meeting with both associations in a bid to speedily resolve the conflict.
“There is now a Compliance Enforcement and Monitoring Team, which will focus on ensuring that law is observed in this area. Both associations must go back to their operations as stipulated in their operating licenses. Anyone with a grievance must follow normal legal processes because violence will not solve problems,” said Mchunu.
Last year a community member was killed when the confrontation ensued between members of the security companies employed by both associations. This led to the signing of an agreement binding the two associations to refrain from having new, illegal ranking stands which caused conflict.
Mchunu urged both associations to go back to the agreement as it was the only solution to ensure stability and normality in the industry in Ntuzuma.
“We strongly condemn the death of a taxi driver. If you both honoured the agreement we previously signed there would be no killings. As government we are concerned with the safety of commuters and the general public. This shall not be compromised. We have deployed an enforcement team to ensure monitoring of operations and safety of the public. Anyone who will deviate from the agreement will be dealt with harshly,” said MEC Mchunu.
On Saturday, MEC Mchunu will hold a public meeting to inform the Ntuzuma community of the final decision to prevent further loss of lives and ensure stability in the taxi operations in the area.
Media contacts:
Kwanele Ncalane
Cell: 0728 031 462/ 079 699 5755
E-mail: Kwanele.ncalane@kzntransport.gov.za
Nathi Sukazi
Cell: 081 018 0518/ 082 565 0205
E-mail: Nathi.Sukazi@kzntransport.gov.za
