MTHATHA, Eastern Cape — Frustrated by escalating tensions and alleged mismanagement, Mthatha taxi operators are urgently calling on the Eastern Cape transport department to intervene and help resolve a deepening internal dispute within their local association. The drivers and fleet owners accuse their current leadership of failing to address a myriad of operational crises that recently culminated in widespread protests.
On Wednesday, aggrieved operators staged a massive demonstration outside the main rank offices to air their grievances. According to the protesting Spokespersons for the Operators, their complaints range from the imposition of alleged bogus fees and financial deductions to severe permit and driver renewal disputes. Furthermore, the members highlighted rampant victimization, extortion, and what they describe as a highly undemocratic election process that installed the current leadership.
The local taxi industry has a volatile history of conflict. Previous violence in 2018 forced the closure of several taxi ranks, including the prominent Mamela taxi rank. Today, the stakes appear even higher. In a grim revelation, protesting members alleged that at least eight individuals have been killed simply for opposing the current chairperson and advocating for a change in leadership.
Providing a firsthand account of the intimidation, a Former Mamela Subrank Executive and spokesperson for the concerned drivers explained that the taxi industry has been her livelihood for most of her life. However, after raising concerns about governance, she claims her vehicles were barred from operating. She detailed a harrowing environment of extortion and disputes, noting that she has faced multiple confrontations at gunpoint and has even had to involve the police to ensure her safety.
The situation has become severe enough to warrant law enforcement escalation. The National Intervention Unit (NIU) was reportedly deployed to the association’s offices following a physical altercation involving the chairman.
Despite the gravity of the situation, operators feel their pleas are being ignored. A Spokesperson for the Association Secretary has reportedly been unable or unwilling to specify action on the pending cases. Meanwhile, representatives and **Spokespersons from the Provincial Safety and Transport Departments** are being heavily pressured to step in. Operators argue that the department has previously dismissed their pleas, leaving them vulnerable to the very individuals they are protesting against. They are now demanding that the department take their grievances to the general council for a definitive resolution.
The unrest in Mthatha is symptomatic of a larger crisis. Across the Eastern Cape, the broader taxi industry continues to grapple with systemic issues regarding leadership, governance, and pervasive violence, leaving commuters and operators alike waiting for lasting stability.
