MAHIKENG — Taxi operators in North West have issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Department of Public Safety and Transport Management, demanding action against small passenger carriers they say are transporting commuters illegally.
The protest action saw blockades at all entrances and exits of Mahikeng town, with major roads entering and exiting the central business district closed for the better part of the morning. Motorists and commuters were left stranded, and some shops around the CBD were closed as law enforcement officers monitored the situation.
Taxi operators handed a memorandum of demands to the department, calling for the removal of illegal ranks and regulation of buses so that local operators can increase their fares. The operators say rising petrol prices and the broader economy are “killing the taxi industry.”
“Government has given us a job to do. But we can’t anymore because taxis no longer have work because of illegal taxi ranks in Mahikeng,” one operator said. “When you arrive in Mahikeng you will find illegal ranks… all these spots are occupied by seven seaters illegally. They are taking our jobs just like that.”
Another operator added: “These seven seaters are taking our customers. Where should we work? Our cars are being repossessed because we don’t have a job. People end up in IT spots.”
Following the submission of demands, the MEC accepted the memorandum and has already taken action on one demand by ensuring all seven-seater and four-seater vehicles are removed from town, according to taxi operators. “We’ll be just waiting to see that he’s enforcing what he’s saying,” one operator said.
The Department of Transport Management in North West has promised to address the grievances. “We are going to focus in the entire province, make sure we destabilise these operations of the seven seaters,” a department spokesperson said. “The Land Transport Act is very clear — those are not permissible to operate. So we don’t need to even get lawyers to interpret the legislation for us.”
The spokesperson added that traffic officials have been directed to enforce the law.
Taxi operators have given the department seven days to respond to their memorandum. As of the time of reporting, all entrances and exits in Mahikeng were open for traffic flow.