OWN CORRESPONDENT , Johannesburg | Monday 7.15pm.
TAXI ranks in Soshanguve are running smoothly and without incident after being re-opened on Sunday afternoon.
The ranks were closed for two months in an attempt to put an end to taxi violence.
Police spokesman Superintendent Roy Govender said taxi associations west of Pretoria and in the North West province were abiding by an interprovincial agreement.
He said police inspected the ranks early on Monday morning to ensure taxi’s were in good running order and would be on hand should there be any violence.
However, Govender said commuters had turned up in small numbers as most did not realise the ban had been lifted.
The ranks were reopened in terms of an agreement between the North West and Gauteng provincial government, the Greater Pretoria Metropolitan council and four taxi associations.
he taxi associations are: Solldta (Soshanguve Local and Long Distance Taxi Association), Sotoa (Soshanguve Taxi Owners Association, Felldta (Federated Long and Local distance Taxi Association) and Salldta, (South African Local and Long Distance taxi Association).
In terms of the agreement, if the taxi associations do not abide by a set of conditions the ranks in the area will be closed.
These include that all taxi ranks will be controlled and managed by the Pretoria council. Long distance operators will be separated from local operators, each having their own ranks.