Taxi associations must rein in drivers amid renewed clashes with e-hailing services
24 July 2024
The DA in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) calls on taxi associations in the province to call their drivers to order following recent incidents of intimidation and extortion against e-hailing services.
The DA strongly condemns such conduct. The rule of law must prevail, and taxi associations are not a law unto themselves.
For far too long, they have been allowed to bully members of the public and other transporters. Go Durban is also a fine example of how taxi associations have exerted their power and control over officials, departments and law enforcement.
The situation is not new and e-hailing drivers and taxi operators have a history of conflict, with the taxi industry demanding that e-hailing services be regulated in the same way as all other public transport providers.
Taxi owners and drivers have also communicated that they want government to ensure that competition within the transport industry is fair, with the SANTACO Chairperson previously quoted as saying “According to the law, once you start transporting people for financial gain, you must get a permit”.
Two weeks ago, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the amended National Land Transport Act 5 of 2009 into law, which finally paves the way for the regulation of e-hailing services in South Africa and officially recognises e-hailing as a service.
The Act provides guidelines for the operation of non-motorised transport, including e-hailing services also expands the powers of the transport minister to make regulations and introduce safety measures within the e-hailing industry.
It further requires that e-hailing companies introduce strict vetting procedures to ensure drivers and riders do not participate in criminality while using e-hailing apps. It also stipulates that e-hailing services operators must apply for operating licences, like any other public transport operator, moving away from the interim usage of charter permits and meter taxi operating licences.
South Africa’s Constitution allows for freedom of choice and movement. Our country is also a free economy and commuters have the right to choose how they wish to commute.
The DA calls on those being harassed and extorted for money by taxi associations to open cases at their nearest South African Police Services (SAPS) stations. The law needs to be enforced without fear or favour and law enforcement must act in accordance with the law.
Issued by Riona Gokool, DA KZN Spokesperson on Transport, 24 July 2024
