Klerksdorp Midweek, Klerksdorp - At the time of going to press on Monday March 17, members of the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) in North West have shut down national roads across the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District. The strike, which has severely disrupted traffic, stems from long-standing issues with the province’s permit board. Affected routes included Tower Mall, Orkney 4-Way on the R30, Ikageng, the R30 at Ventersdorp, the N12 bridge at Wolmaransstad, the N12 at Stilfontein, and the 4-way stop at Leeudoringstad. The protest has impacted three municipalities: JB Marks, the City of Matlosana, and Maquassi Hills.
North West Santaco spokesperson, Shiyekile Matjekani, told OFM News that the protest is driven by frustrations over operating licenses. Taxi operators applied for licenses as early as 2021, following a moratorium under former Transport MEC, Dr Mpho Motlhabane.
Although the moratorium expired after five years, the application process only resumed in
October. However, by November operators began receiving approval or rejection notices for
their licenses.
“Those who were granted licenses now find that, when they go to the permit board to collect them, they are told that the MEC has ordered the board not to issue them, despite having grant letters,” Matjekani explained.
Apparently since January 9, taxi operators have faced repeated obstacles. Each time they visit the permit board offices, they are allegedly told the system is offline. Two weeks ago, Matjekani claims he was informed the North West Transport MEC had instructed officials not to grant permits.
Operating licenses are crucial for taxi operators to transport passengers legally and avoid potential legal issues, particularly in the event of an accident, he added.
Santaco also expressed frustration over the MEC’s lack of engagement, saying she has been unavailable for discussions.
The association is calling for urgent meetings between the MEC, the premier, and municipal officials. Among their advances is the poor state of roads, which they argue affects their ability to operate safely. They threatened to escalate the taxi shutdown for longer if the MEC and Premier do not meet with them today.
City of Matlosana Mayor Fikile Mahlope has urged and pleaded with the Taxi Industry to refrain from burning tyres on the road as this is a deterance to public infrastructure and a setback to the municipality’s effort to address the backlog of refurbishing and replenishing of roads in the city. “I am coordinating a meeting to have all stakeholders under one roof to get to the issues and most importantly to resolve so that the situation in the city is back to normal, I will try my level best,’’ he told Maklera Magazine.
Meanwhile, police are present at the N12 trying to open entrances at Jouberton, said North West police spokesperson, Sabata Mokgwabone.
