The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) says motorists cannot give lifts to hitchhikers, even if it’s family members.
This comes as videos of a taxi patrol vehicle harassed motorists who reportedly give pedestrians lifts on the N4 toll road in Mpumalanga on separate occasions were circulated online.
SANTACO SAYS MOTORISTS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO GIVE HITCHHIKERS LIFTS
Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, Santaco chairperson in Mpumalanga Fanyana Sibanyoni said car owners aren’t allowed to give pedestrians lifts because they infringe on their rights because, as taxi operators, they are the only ones who have a permit to pick up passengers.
Sibanyoni said motorists should first stop and explain to the security guard or taxi patrollers that the individual they want to pick up is a family member, which shouldn’t be an issue.
The Mpumalanga provincial government has also warned taxi patrollers to stop harassing motorists on the road.
SIMILAR INCIDENTS REPORTED ACROSS THE COUNTRY
This is not the first time the alleged harassment of motorists by taxi patrollers has been thrust into the spotlight.
In KwaZulu-Natal, a number of incidents have been reported where taxi patrollers are conducting illegal road blocks and pull out passengers from private vehicles claiming that lift clubs are killing their business.
Some motorists were allegedly forced to pay between R5000 and R10 000 or their cars were impounded by the taxi patrollers.
In 2022, Santaco office manager Sifiso Shangase told Daily News that those who are stopped and extorted should open a case, especially if they have seen and taken details of those who stopped them, such as vehicle licences.
Shangase said people should question what the fine was for, where the money was going and who it was going to.
ARE YOU A MOTORIST OR A HITCHHIKER WHO HAS BEEN IN A SIMILAR SITUATION?
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