Soshanguve taxi owners say crime spike has severely affected their businesses

TSHWANE - Taxi owners in Soshanguve, north of Pretoria, say their businesses have been severely affected by the recent spike in violent crimes in the community.

They joined the African National Congress (ANC) Youth League’s march to the local police station on Wednesday afternoon, demanding an urgent solution to the scourge of crime.

This on the back of the recent murder of five-year-old Ditebogo Junior Phalane, who was shot while his father was being hijacked outside his home a little over a week ago.

Hundreds of ANC Youth League supporters filled the streets of Soshanguve, expressing the need for police visibility in the township.

Chairperson of the Soshanguve Taxi Owners Association, Mckeed Mogale, said taxi drivers no longer feel safe on the job.

"Remember that they killed our guys and some have been shot. So we are affected a lot. Remember, if these people are doing this to our cars, we don’t have any business."

He said the tyres of some of the vehicles in his fleet were recently spiked on the R80 Mabopane highway.

"Remember one thing, we are not politicians. We are business people and we must protect our business, hence we are joining the ANC."

Frustrated community members said they were living in fear, as crime in the community remained a major issue.