The Gauteng Taxi Council (Gataco) on Thursday embarked on a march around Johannesburg demanding the Gauteng government recognise its members and deal with problems facing the industry.
Gataco chairperson Tutu Molefe said that in seven days the organisation will go on a countrywide march if the provincial government does not meet certain demands, including recognising its ”democratically elected” representatives.
Other demands include that the recapitalisation programme be immediately implemented and that the government finance the taxi council as it does ”any other disadvantaged body” in the country.
The recapitalisation programme proposes the partially subsidised phasing out of the traditional minibus taxis in favour of much larger vehicles.
The organisation accused provincial transport minister Ignatius Jacobs of refusing to meet the incoming leadership of Gataco and claimed that the government ”and its systems” know who the perpetrators of taxi violence are but fail to act on other issues also facing the Department of Transport.
The secretary general of the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco), Philip Taaibosch, said the protesters would continue to march until their grievances were heard by Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa, who they said had failed to respond.
Marchers were in Jeppe Street wearing T-shirts saying they wouldn’t ”back down” and carrying placards reading: ”Minister, MEC and premier must respond” and ”Down with taxi violence”.
The Top Six taxi association, which is affiliated to the National Taxi Alliance and also ”umbrellas” about 100 taxi councils countrywide, said it would not participate in Thursday’s march. Passengers using Top Six taxis would not be affected by the expected disruptions to public transport, national chairperson Sicelo Mabaso said.
Top Six views the recapitalisation programme as a ”non-starter”.
Mabaso said Top Six ”totally disagreed” with the demands Gataco and Santaco are bringing before the government. He said that it will continue to transport stranded commuters and business will continue. — Sapa