The Uncedo and Border Alliance taxi associations in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape have signed a binding agreement that will see both associations working together to ferry people. The two associations have been feuding over routes for more than two years. The feud has seen more than 60 lives being lost.
The agreement states that there will be only two taxi ranks in Mthatha, one for long distance taxis and one for local taxis. The associations also agreed that operating taxis will not display stickers of their affiliated associations.
The agreement will allow taxis to operate as from today under law enforcement supervision. Police Minister Bheki Cele believes no more lives will be lost.
“We believe that everybody will stick to the agreement that is there and life will be better to all of us, the commuters, us as the government and the traders, those that are running the taxis. I have no reason of not believing that they will not make it but if they do not, we will make sure that the government remains with its authority to say people of South Africa must be safe and we will not allow the people of South Africa to be killed and messed up.”
The two taxi associations have committed to striving for peace and stability. The Uncedo Taxi association and the Border Taxi Alliance association is happy to start operating again.
The president of the Border Taxi Alliance, Vuyani Mshiywa and Mabuya Shumayele from the Eastern Cape Taxi Council spoke to the SABC after the signing.
“Well it is true that we are very committed to adhere to the decisions that have been taken, I mean in this case, we as the industry we have failed to address our problems that is why government has gone further in addressing these problems for us. We are very happy for the decision that has been taken today. We have long been discussing this matter, but today we have reached a very good decision for the business and we promise that this will not happen again.”
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