Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela says law enforcement authorities are taking the scourge of taxi violence in the Metropolitan Municipality “seriously” amid safety concerns for commuters this Festive Season.
Commuters are expected to make their way to different holiday destinations and the taxi industry is the most utilised mode of public transport with more than 60% of commuters using it as their preferred mode of transport in South Africa.
According to the National Household Travel Survey in South Africa, there has been a general increase in households that use public transport from 9,8 million to 11,4 million per annum.
But the multi billion rand taxi industry has been plagued by taxi violence for years and there has been recent flare ups in parts of Gauteng.
Earlier this year, Atteridgeville Saulsville Taxi Owner Association(ASTOA) chairperson, Thapedi Moremi was shot and killed in his office at Mphalane taxi rank while Centurion Taxi Association chairperson, Paul Mokoena was also gunned down in Tshwane.
On Friday, Gauteng Commissioner said anti-taxi violence task teams have been established in the metros which are hotspots for taxi violence.
“What we have done on our part is we have established anti-taxi violence task teams, in four regions, – Tshwane, Joburg, Ekurhuleni and Sedibeng where we are experiencing high levels of taxi violence.
“But we have also resourced and capacitated the taxi violence investigation unit so that they can immediately respond to those crime scenes and follow through the investigation part,” said Mawela.
“You would recall that in Gauteng we had a commission of inquiry led by Judge Shongwe whereby he gave some recommendations. As Gauteng we have ensured that we implement those recommendations given to us.”
Mawela said while there are other contributing factors to the increase of the murders in the country, police are prioritizing taxi killings as well.
“We don’t take it for granted because it is a crime of fear and it makes the commuters not feel comfortable to make use of all those taxis so we take it seriously hence we have established all those task teams,” said Mawela.
The law enforcement authorities have vowed to have road blocks on all major roads as they intensify efforts to fight crime this festive season.
