The IFP has lambasted the Department of Transport for failing to speed up the process of issuing taxi permits which has resulted in thousands of taxi commuters left stranded in most parts of Durban due to a taxi driver’s strike and it calls on the MEC to consult with taxi operators and eThekwini Municipality Metro Police to resolve this matter.
“We need action in this matter. We demand that MEC Willies Mchunu must provide answers for the permit delays. He must take the blame. Taxis are impounded by the Road Traffic Inspectorate while the delay is caused by the Department of Transport in regulating the industry. Now commuters and businesses have to suffer due to the inept Department of Transport. We are unhappy with the Transport Department’s system of issuing permits, and the arrest of drivers who did not have them. We do not condone taxis operating without permits therefore the Department must speed up the issuing of permits,” said IFP Leader in the KZN Legislature, Mr Blessed Gwala, MPL.
“Insurers will not pay the claims to the taxi operators when taxis are involved in accidents because they don’t have operating permits. We are not against the law that impounds unroadworthy vehicles and taxis without permits but firstly the RTI must consider that the delay is caused by the Department of Transport,” continued Mr Gwala.
“Today’s strike will also have a negative impact on businesses and industry because so many people have been prevented from going to work or got to work late. Businesses are already losing financially due to the ongoing electricity load shedding and the taxi strikes further adds to the problem,” concluded Mr Gwala.
The IFP demands that the MEC of Transport must disband the board that issues permits if they are incompetent and appoint new, capable individuals to speed up the process. He must further conduct a thorough investigation on the causes of the delay in issuing permits.
