Despite the South African National Taxi Council in KwaZulu-Natal distancing itself from claims that taxi drivers were forcing people out of private vehicles and into minibus taxis, IOL readers have shared their experiences of either being stopped on the road or forced into a taxi, by taxi drivers.

Last week, posts on social media claimed that the council ordered motorists to refrain from carrying more than one passenger in their private cars.

One of the posts went on to state that it did not matter if the passengers were the driver’s children, family or friends.

“…if spotted with more than one passenger, drivers threaten to damage the car, crash it or even set it alight,” the post read.

This prompted a response from Santaco KZN, denying the veracity of the claims.

Santaco KZN further stated that it was unaware of such operations in other parts of the country.

“We categorically state that these claims are completely false and have no basis. Santaco is not a law enforcement agency and does not have the authority to impose or enforce regulations on private vehicles or motorists,” the council said.

However, according to KZN readers, their experience was different.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, one reader said company vehicles, especially on the KZN north coast, were often stopped.

“We’ve had multiple instances of taxis not allowing staff through in a marked company vehicle. Made to exit the vehicle and forced to use taxis. We’ve had to negotiate with taxi bosses who refused access to their zones, had the police involved to try and resolve the situation, had staff threatened and made to pay ‘fines’. It is rife in KwaDukuza,” the woman said.

She added that ‘patrollers’ control vehicle access into and out of certain areas.

“They are armed with guns and intimidate those who don’t comply,” she said.

Another reader said he has seen for himself how taxi drivers stop private cars for bribes.

“This happens either in the Mobeni area where Mayfair is located along that road or near Jacobs. Santaco must be lying because their members are stopping and asking private cars for bribes or they take their cars away,” he said.

“You can tell Santaco to stop lying to the public and on the news,” he added.

Another reader said he was forced out of an Uber and into another vehicle in Phoenix, earlier this year.

“It was traumatising. People from the taxi association pulled my mother and me from the Uber and took us to another location. They told the Uber driver to follow up,” he said.

“As much as they try to deny to claims, it is still being done,” he said.

On Facebook, readers had this to say:

Goddy Sk: “Some taxi drivers are bribe to tell us that we should not carry no more than one person in your own car. It is clear that they are try to us problems.”

Mlungisi Fixer Qhinga: “The big bosses will deny it yet here on the ground it happens. My colleague was pulled out of his car for picking up a friend on his way home. They wanted him to pay R2,500.”

Feroza Ramnarain: “They are lying because at the Phoenix Plaza they don’t allow us to board the Uber.”

Sipho Mkhambatsi Muzi Phuthini: “They will deny it, but what’s happening on the ground tells a different story.”

Santaco national spokesperson, Mmatshikhidi Rebecca Phala said only law enforcement authorities hold the legal mandate to enforce regulations relating to transport in South Africa.

“We encourage members of the public to report any incidents of harassment or unlawful enforcement directly to law enforcement agencies,” she said.

Phala said incidents can also be reported via 012 321 1043 and at the local police stations.

seanne.rall@iol.co.za

IOL

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