Taxi operators popularly known as “Abomageza” embarked on a reign of terror against the Taung Traffic Department and the NWU Mahikeng campus. Their main grievances were the impounding of 27 minibus taxis in Taung and a demand was made to be included in the transportation of university students respectively. Last Wednesday, learners in Taung were left stranded after 27 minibus taxis were impounded at the Learners and Drivers Testing Centre for not having scholar permits. Under the leadership of South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) Chairperson, Ebusang Tladi, the drivers blocked the entrance of the testing centre.
Their action prompted the North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management to delegate its Acting Director, Paul Stone to visit the Traffic Department. “We blocked the entrance because of the deadlock with the Taung Traffic Department management and for confiscating more than 20 taxis on Wednesday morning,” Tladi stated.
Tladi made a call to all taxi drivers to pay their outstanding fines and emphasized that SANTACO does not promote lawlessness within their organization. “I have asked drivers to pay their fines and some were made later that day,” he said.
The department has given SANTACO a period of four weeks to ensure that every taxi is roadworthy after the joint meeting in Taung. Oshebeng Koonyaditse, the spokesperson for MEC Sello Lehari, told Mo Media that it was premature to give a comment at this moment because the department was engaged in talks with SANTACO over the matter and other related issues.
He promised that the department will issue a statement as soon as the process of engagement is completed. On the same day, Abomageza from Mmabatho and Montshioa blocked the entrance of the NWU Mahikeng campus.
They were allegedly aggrieved by speculations that the university had awarded a student transportation tender to someone not residing in Mahikeng. The spokesperson for the institution, Christopher Motabogi issued a statement in response to the actions of the taxi operators.
“The NWU wishes to confirm that it has no transport arrangements in place with any outside parties as alleged by the aggrieved taxi drivers. In place are private transport arrangements between accommodation providers and the students who are being housed. This is done in a private capacity to ensure that students, especially those who reside far from campus are transported to and from the NWU campus to attend to their academic activities,” Motabogi stated.
Some residents from Motlhabeng and Dibate interviewed by our editorial team expressed that since this modus operandi, there were no longer cases reported of students who reside out of campus being robbed of their cellphones and laptops. Alleged raped and loss of life have also occurred. Unconfirmed reports claim that the number of students murdered was four.
“At the moment with the current arrangements, the transport collects students from their residences to campus and institutions such as clinics for their practicals. They are ferried back and dropped off at the gate of their residence,” stated one Motlhabeng resident.
By: Boineelo Kgope & Lebogang Moeng
