/ 12 March 2008

Govt slams Gauteng taxi violence as ‘barbarism’

A recent spate of taxi violence in Gauteng is ”senseless barbarism” that will not be tolerated, the Department of Transport said on Wednesday.

It has forged relations with law-enforcement agencies to ensure those responsible face the full might of the law, spokesperson Collen Msibi said in a statement.

The government’s taxi-recapitalisation programme is an attempt to resolve destructive competition over routes, Msibi said.

It is commendable that more than 130 taxis not in possession of operating licences have been impounded, he said.

Msibi said the conversion of radius permits to operating licences will bring proper regulation to the taxi industry.

Of more than 119 000 route-based operating licences processed, 80 000 have been approved, he said. — Sapa