The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport has taken an extraordinary step of closing down all routes and portions of taxi ranks operated by the Witwatersrand African Taxi Owners Association (WATA) with effect from 30 March 2010 until further notice.
The closure is motivated by the department’s assessment that the continued operations by WATA pose a threat to stability and has the potential for unrest and conflict.
The closure was taken in terms of section 93 of the Gauteng Public Passenger Road Transport Act, No 2 of 2000 and affects all minibus taxis belonging to or operating under the above mentioned association, including those that operate on the Johannesburg Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.
This action is seen as a measure to avoid violence that may endanger the lives of commuters in particular and the department apologises for the inconvenience this would have on affected commuters and advises the use of alternative transport.
Issued by: Department of Roads and Transport, Gauteng Provincial Government
29 March 2010
Source: Department of Roads and Transport, Gauteng Provincial Government (http://www.gdace.gpg.gov.za/)
