Police face down taxi bosses threats

(Article by Mpume Madlala at www.iol.co.za)

Police say they will not be intimidated by controversial statements made by senior taxi officials who threatened to “shoot back” at police who impound their taxis and use force against them.

More than 40 taxis from the North and South Beach taxi associations were seized on Wednesday after they blockaded several main roads leading into the city centre.

Taxi owners accused certain Metro Police officers of targeting their taxis and issuing fines unfairly.

There was a clash between police and protesters and rubber bullets were fired at the protesters who refused to disperse.

The taxis were released later that day without any penalties after operators threatened to bring the city to a halt if their vehicles were not returned to them immediately.

The following day, taxi owners and drivers gathered at Albert Park to have a meeting with Derek Naidoo, the deputy city manager for the eThekwini Municipality, to try to resolve the issues as well as other concerns.

Gerald Ferror, president of the KwaZulu-Natal Transport Alliance, said he was struck by a rubber bullet and he warned that they would retaliate if police continued to use force on them.

“The police must not forget we can also fight for what we believe in. The day we retaliate will not be a good day.”

Eugene Hadebe, the KwaZulu-Natal Transport Alliance chairman, said they were tired of being abused by police and warned members would shoot back if necessary.

Senior Superintendent Vincent Mdunge, spokesperson for the provincial SA Police Services, described these threats as insane and said the taxi drivers were behaving like children.

Disperse

“They were engaging in an illegal protest. They cannot expect the police to just stand by and watch while they break the law,” he said.

Mdunge said the use of rubber bullets to disperse the protesters was necessary.

“If they persist, we will take away their guns and arrest them because we issue their licences, after all. We cannot be intimidated by them because laws apply to everybody and they have to abide by the laws or face the consequences. This is our job and we will continue to do it,” he said.

The MEC for Community Safety, Transport and Liaison, Bheki Cele, said these statements were not building the nation and he would call for a meeting with the taxi association and ask for the statements to be withdrawn.

“It is unfortunate that these kinds of statements are being made by leaders of the taxi association, who should be setting an example.”

Cele was angry with the statements and said the recent murder of the head of the taxi task team, Supt Zethembe Chonco, was indicative of the criminal element in the taxi industry. Chonco was appointed by Cele to head the taxi task team, part of the organised crime unit in the province.

Chonco was investigating taxi violence between the Kwa-Dukuza and KwaMaphumulo associations.

He was escorting prisoners from Kranskop to the Stanger Magistrate’s Court three weeks ago when he was ambushed by gunmen hiding at the side of the road. At least 25 bullets penetrated his car.

“Chonco was a victim of taxi violence and this makes their statements even worse,” said Cele. “One thing they must remember is that operating taxis is not a right, but a privilege which must not be abused. No-one will shoot at policemen and think that they can get away with it,” he said.

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