Lack of regulations 'will continue to lead to violence'
The Private Public Transport Association of SA has reiterated its call for the government to regulate the sector in order to protect operators from attacks by metered and taxi drivers.
The latest call follows Thursday evening's violence minibus taxi drivers and e-hailing operators.
Taxi drivers allegedly torched three e-hailing cabs, and damaged four others, at Maponya Mall in Soweto.
Three drivers were injured and taken to hospital.
The organisation's Vhatuka Mbelengwa says e-hailing drivers live in constant fear.
“The reason why we see these kinds of attacks and violence is because the industry is not regulated. In a regulated framework we have price determining instruments to make sure that each player within the transportation eco-mix does not directly compete with each other but complement each other.
“Now e-hailing generally undermines the rest of the other participants in the transportation eco-mix and as a result you see this sort of response and reaction. Traditionally, taxis also have routes that they stick to and e-hailing doesn’t have routes, which makes any area they operate in a hot-spot.
“We are calling for regulations and for young people to vote next year so we can elect a government that will serve us and implement rules and laws that will protect South Africa”.
Police say no one has been arrested so far.
“The police are investigating a case of attempted murder and malicious damage to property following a fight between mini-bus taxi drivers and e-hailing drivers," says the police's Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi.
"The police continue to maintain presence in that area to ensure stability and safety for the commuters."
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