‘Better to lock down than count bodies,' says MEC on taxi routes

FOLLOWING a spate of taxi-related violent killings that has claimed 59 lives in Soweto, Gauteng MEC for Transport and Logistics Kedibone Tlabela-Diale has announced plans to shut down routes and ranks operated by two rivalling taxi associations for six months.

- SIYABONGA SITHOLE

The announcement comes after three taxi marshals were killed in Mofolo on Monday, with the MEC stating: “It is better to lock down than continue to count dead bodies”

Speaking to women-led religious groups during a prayer session at the Uncle Tom's Hall in Orlando West on Thursday, the MEC said the province cannot continue to lose innocent lives and not act as it is empowered by law to act against the ongoing violence between Nancefield Dube West Taxi Association (Nanduwe) and Witwatersrand African Taxi Association (Wata).

“We intend to shut down the routes belonging to the two taxi associations for six months. We are still engaged in consultations to ensure we have alternative transport while engaging law enforcement... We are here to announce to the people of Soweto, Gauteng, and South Africa that we intend to close all the ranks where there is taxi violence.