Taxi violence has reared its ugly head again in Khuma and Stilfontein in the North West as taxi operators fight over lucrative routes.
Passengers and drivers were caught in the crossfire between the warring factions while two taxi operators were gunned down and killed this month.
Taxi drivers are now ferrying passengers without operating licences and have vowed to eliminate anyone who gets in their way of earning money for their families.
There were few taxis on the road on Tuesday, as an operation targeting illegal taxis in the area has resulted in the impounding of 54 vehicles for operating illegally.
The operation was led by North West Community Safety MEC Sello Lehari and taxi owners appealed to him for urgent intervention to stop the violence.
“We are constantly living in fear. My children are happy when they see me back home alive. My taxi was one of those impounded since I did not have an operating licence.
“I don’t have it because I’m waiting for the board to give me a new one; in the meantime, I can’t let my children go hungry, and I still have to pay monthly instalments for my taxi,” said one taxi operator.
Taxi operators believe that in order to avert more violence, Lehari must merge the two taxi associations operating in that area.
Lehari resolved to put together a team and also promised the taxi operators to meet with them within seven days to discuss their issues.
“They are fighting for better routes, some are illegal operators, some are legal operators, but for now we can’t say who is wrong or right. The police are investigating the killings, so this is very serious, more than two people have been killed and two people is too many,” he said.
