The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Transport, Donald Selamolela, has condemned the behaviour of some taxi patrollers, who allegedly harass and abuse motorists after offering people lifts.
This after videos surfaced on social media, of patrollers allegedly belonging to the South African National Taxi Association Council (SANTACO) blocking a private vehicle that allegedly picked up a hitchhiker.
The vehicles are allegedly impounded, and motorists are forced to pay a R2,500 fine before they’re released.
surfaced. The South African National Taxi Association Council representative came out to support the patrollers’ conduct and sought to suggest that minibus taxi operators had an exclusive right to pick up people.
Selamola has called on taxi associations to reign in their members.
“There has been too much negativity about operations of the taxi industry nationwide, and with the invention of social media, one can never tell if the videos and voice notes are regurgitated.
However, associations should prevail on their members and have a decent and enforceable code of conduct.
We must all work to improve the taxi industry, where it becomes transport of choice rather than convenience.
Some of the transgressions the drivers commit are wholly unnecessary and can frustrate any improvisation in the industry,” said Selamola.
He highlighted that the committee will soon meet with the taxi sector regarding the incidents.
The committee said it’ll also review the amount paid to the sector in the recapitalisation programme, and it is looking to pilot an electronic payment system in association with the industry as proposed by the Department of Transport.
“But not only that, the department is looking to review and improve the amount paid to the taxi recapitalisation programme.
This kind of behaviour, especially if the video on social media is not a dated video, frustrates the work of the government and compromises the industry in the eyes of the public.”
“The committee is excited that our government is looking to aid the industry, and therefore, the committee expects the industry to introspect and avoid the proverbial scoring of its own goals,” explained Selamolela.
The Chairperson stressed that public transport practitioners must focus on professionalism, safety and responsible driving.
