Politics has no place in taxi industry, Santaco warns
The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) has warned its members to avoid branding vehicles.
This comes after Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula was involved in a back and forth with a Limpopo taxi operator.
A leaked phone call conversation between the pair leaked on social media on Thursday where Mbalula is heard asking a taxi operator why his vehicle was politically branded.
It's understood Mbalula is speaking to Limpopo taxi boss Malo-A-Botsheba.
The taxi has the African National Congress (ANC) colours across the body, the party flag towards the taillights and secretary-general Ace Magashule's face towards the front.
The message "Hands off Ace Maagshule" is written boldly on the vehicle.
These taxis and whatever they seek to promote DO NOT represent the view of SANTACO or the taxi industry. We strongly condemn this misleading conduct. The matter is receiving attention internally. pic.twitter.com/O6a0dshLzf
— SANTACO (@SA_Taxis) April 15, 2021
Mbalula accused the taxi boss of being anti-ANC.
"What are you trying to do, the organisation is bleeding, comrades are appearing in court and you're busy branding taxis here."
Leaked phone call, Fikile Mbalula threatening ANC Members who are supporting Ace Magashule pic.twitter.com/OffV89cbgH
— Mr Handsome (@MrHandsome_ZA) April 14, 2021
Santaco president Phillip Taaibosch sided with Mbalula, adding the association's constitutions doesn't allowing the branding of vehicles.
"I must agree with the minister - it is illegal, but I think we could have done it in a better way without putting our minister on the spot," said Taaibosch.
He added the taxi owner admitted to being in the wrong and agreed to remove the branding.
"The particular taxi operator has actually overplayed its cards because it is completely against the law for a taxi to be branded without getting the necessary legal permission from government.
"In this taxi industry, no one is allowed to brand his taxi except with the branding of the national flag of the country," he said.
He warned the industry to avoid being hauled into political battles.
"I want to indicate to all the taxi operators in South Africa that the taxi industry is not a political player, it's not a political body and we don't play politics in the taxi industry.
"We are not going to allow anybody to advertise any political party. We are South Africans and we are supporting all the political parties in the country and supporters of the law."
ALSO READ:
