Mthatha taxi action leaves commuters stranded

HUNDREDS of commuters, some intending to attend church services on the Easter weekend and homebound schoolchildren, were left stranded after the government failed to provide alternative transport when it forced minibus taxis to stop operating in the former Transkei.

Some commuters blasted the state for rushing to close taxi ranks and operating routes as a measure to end the ongoing taxi violence that has claimed more than 60 lives since 2016.

The indefinite closure of the R61 between Mthatha and Port St Johns, the N2 between Mthatha and Tsolo and the R396 between Tsolo and Maclear was announced by Police Minister Bheki Cele this week.

The government promised to provide an alternative for commuters but by yesterday there was still no transport available for stranded and frustrated people.

Now commuters feel they are paying for sins of the taxi industry.

“I am from Xhugxwala. Now I have been left here stranded without any transport. How can I take all these groceries with me home if there are not taxis?

“The are no bakkies, no buses to take us home. Why did the government not provide alternative transport for us?

“This is all wrong,” said a visibly irate Nothobile Silarha.

She was sitting on the pavement at the Mthatha main rank with other elderly people with their groceries.

Provincial transport spokeswoman Khuselwa Rantjie said alternative transport was still being organised but could not say when it would be available.

Rantjie confirmed that among the closed ranks were Circus Triangle, Siwalala, Mamela, Mthatha Main Rank and other smaller tanks ranks.

The Daily Dispatch watched police and traffic officers as they closed the ranks.

Rantjie said the Golden Egg rank, also in Mthatha, which by 2.30pm yesterday was still open, would also be closed.

Meanwhile, Uncedo Service Taxi Association president Ntsikelo Geahler lashed out at the closure of the routes and ranks, saying the move was illogical.

He accused the state of victimising the industry and employing bully tactics.

But Border Alliance Taxi Association president Vuyani Mshiywa applauded Cele for the closure.

Both Geahler and Mshiywa agreed a lasting solution was needed, and condemned the violence.

“But closure of routes and taxi ranks is wrong, very wrong, and illogical. Instead the police and the government should have used their energies in clamping down on the killers and arresting them all.”

Mshiywa agreed that the industry would suffer because of the closure.

“But life is more valuable than money, hence the government decided to protect lives – lives of our passengers – the innocent people.

“We cannot blame the government for our faults. We must try to run the industry professionally,” he said.

When some ranks were closed for weeks last year, the industry said it had lost at least R30-million. —