GP Transport MEC threatens to shut down taxi ranks to thwart ongoing violence

JOHANNESBURG - MEC for Roads and Transport in Gauteng, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, has warned that taxi ranks will be shut down to address the ongoing issues surrounding taxi violence

Diale-Tlabela was speaking about the recent murder of three men in a patrol vehicle who were fatally shot on Zulu Drive in Mofolo on Monday.

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It's understood that the marshals were employed by the Witwatersrand African Taxi Association (WATA), which has been in a decade-long war with the Nancefield-Dube West Taxi Association (Nanduwe).

However, there is no evidence of the latter's involvement in the attack.

Tlabela says transport plans for the area where the shooting incident occurred are being prioritised.

She added that the department has called upon other modes of transport to ready themselves to enter the space.

"When people die, you must move that which kills them, and what kills them is that government has given unscrupulous people, people who don't care about life, operating licences to participate in this economic activity. Unfortunately for all of them, we are withdrawing the operating licenses, we are closing the ranks, and this time it will not be only for a few only for few weeks."