South African taxi drivers have a reputation for wild street antics.
Often weaving through traffic, they show little to no regard for neighbouring motorists, forcing their way through tight gaps in a relentless bid to get from A to B as quickly as possible—a boon for passengers, but a nightmare for other drivers.
Sunday Times journalist Innocentia Nkadimeng described taxi drivers’ behaviour as “terrorising.”
Public outcry
Mpumalanga’s Taxi chairperson, Fanyana Sibanyoni, believes car owners should not be allowed to lift hitchhiker’s – social media users were quick to respond.
“We can’t be held hostage by taxi drivers and associations. Their behaviour is like declaring war on everyone. Imagine begging them to allow our wives and children to get inside our cars. Did we sign contracts which bind us to use their taxis? They are going too far with their attitude. I can’t beg them to be with my family inside my car,” Luka Ringeta said.
“This must stop before someone draws a firearm and kills another person. Or there will be a huge accident where innocent lives will be lost. The taxi industry thugs have no right to dictate who gets to ride in my car. They should improve their product so people will find it preferable to use them. Forcing someone to do anything is against the law, unless you are a legally operating law enforcement official,” Nathi Sibiya commented.
“Citizens are bullied because there is huge lack of visibility and active public policing, What are the police doing to show up better in the streets? Anyone does as they please and takes charge of our streets, and in the meantime the men in blue are locked in community police service centres and not doing street policing. The system that allows these guys to take space starts with the security sector’s step-back stance and exposing citizens to these kinds of problems,” said Magrebe Ka Phoswa.
Do you regularly ride in taxi’s?
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