Analysing the impact of taxi violence on commuters in South Africa

Modipa Mmakwena

doi:10.47577/tssj.v27i1.5116

Abstract

Taxi violence in South Africa was the tool that the apartheid regime used to pursue their interest by dividing the people so that they could acquire what they needed (Sekhonyane and Dugard, 2004:15). Taxi violence is one of the most burning issues faced by Department of Transport, Police, commuters and taxi industry in South Africa. This industry plays a vital role in commuting people to and from work or different destinations, and in most cases it is caught in the wrong doing in terms of fighting for routes where many innocent lives are lost due to infighting. The inability by government to regulate taxi industry is a serious problem for taxi operators, taxi associations, commuters and society. The deregulation of taxi industry brought many problems such as conflict, violence and mafia type assassinations in South Africa. This article focus on preventive measures to curb taxi violence in South Africa. This article utilised qualitative, case study based approach and the approach is supported by analysis of primary and secondary sources. The article further draws on the findings from the world on taxi violence and formulate steps to counteract taxi violence in South Africa. The research based key steps leading to the prevention of taxi violence in South Africa. The first process related to regulation of taxi industry, awareness campaigns on taxi operations, the control of routes and multidisciplinary investigation team should be established to overcome taxi violence in South Africa.

Highlights

The term “taxi war” is usually used to refer to the turf wars fought between taxi associations and individual taxi drivers since the 1980s (Morapedi, 2017)
This business plays a vital role in terms of economic activities because without the taxi industry most of the people will not be able to go to work and attend schools, it is of paramount importance to ensure that it is safer to use this modes of transportation
All major role players need to come on board and assist in the prevention measures of curbing these killings in the taxi and industry and ensure that all commuters, owners, taxi drivers and all other road users are safe on the road as these killings are happening everywhere

Summary

Introduction

The term “taxi war” is usually used to refer to the turf wars fought between taxi associations and individual taxi drivers since the 1980s (Morapedi, 2017). Commuters are no longer safe in the taxis as the violence continue on daily basis across the country and what is disturbing is the industry is not regulated which put the entire business under the control of taxi owners and associations without the involvement of state which create lawlessness in the business This business plays a vital role in terms of economic activities because without the taxi industry most of the people will not be able to go to work and attend schools, it is of paramount importance to ensure that it is safer to use this modes of transportation. The competition for the control and domination of routes in the industry resulted in the increase of violent incidents, particular murders by hired guns There were those busy routes that most of the taxi owners had interest in (Sekhonyane and Duguard, 2004:15); those that already operated in those routes did not allow new people who wanted to join and work with them; and they were protected their territory. Rival owners increasingly resorted to violence to eliminate competition and the assassination of rivals added a sinister dimension to the conflict

Ineffective law enforcement

Findings

Conclusion and recommended interventions to combat taxi violence in South Africa