WATA, Nanduwe taxi associations punishing commuters with fight over route - Gauteng transport dept
On Monday morning, commuters in Soweto were forced to scramble for alternative transport after WATA withdrew its operations after the department impounded 47 taxis.
Picture: © Alexey Stiop /123rf.com
JOHANNESBURG - The Gauteng transport department has accused WATA and Nanduwe taxi associations of punishing desperate commuters during a fight over routes.
The department impounded 47 taxis belonging to the warring associations in a joint operation between law enforcement and the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) on Friday.
On Monday morning, commuters in Soweto were forced to scramble for alternative transport after WATA withdrew its operations.
The department’s Lesiba Mpya said the vehicles were seized following a tip-off about violence between the rival operators.
"We received security threat alerts that the two taxi associations were planning retaliations, mainly around Zone 9 between central and western Jabavu and Orlando West. We've identified these vehicles - 26 belong to WATA and 21 vehicles belong to Naduwe."
Mpya said the stay away would affect taxi routes for three days.
"So the department knows that WATA decided to withdraw its services for three specific days and the department sees this as intended to punish innocent commuters and therefore is very unfortunate."