MEC Ismail Vadi condemns unlawful blockading of Joburg CBD streets by taxi drivers

Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Ismail Vadi, has condemned the unlawful blockading of the Johannesburg CBD today by an unknown bunch of taxi drivers calling themselves the Alliance for Transformation for All. 

“Their reckless action is unfortunate and totally unacceptable,” said Vadi. 

It is clear that they do not have an appreciation of the facts regarding the conflict between WATA and NANDUWE taxi associations as well as the intended action by MEC Vadi.

To date, no decision has been taken by the MEC to close any taxi rank or route in Soweto as he is still considering representations made by legal representatives for WATA and NANDUWE to him.

“The traffic havoc caused in the city centre by a handful of uninformed taxi drivers is totally unacceptable and must be condemned by all. Such reckless actions to the severe disadvantage of tens of thousands of people in the city centre will clearly not contribute to a speedy and peaceful resolution of the conflict between WATA and NANDUWE,” added Vadi. 

Vadi further said that such lawlessness in the taxi industry is intolerable and he called on taxi owners not to allow their drivers to engage in illegal actions.