Tshwane taxis embark on anti-xenophobia motorcade
The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) and National
Taxi Alliance (NTA) will form part of an anti-xenophobia motorcade in the
Pretoria Central Business District (CBD) on Tuesday.
Santaco's Tshwane Regional leader, Mack Makata, says the taxi associations have embarked on the 'Not In Our Name' campaign following events of criminality that took place in the name of the taxi industry.
SEE AFFECTED STREETS BELOW:
Tshwane roads to be affected by taxi motorcade
Taxi associations SANTACO and NTA will form part of an anti-crime motorcade in the CBD. In a statement the metro police's Isaac Mahamba says most streets in the capital will be affected. They will gather at the Old Puto Depot from 9am and proceed to the Bosman Taxi Rank, Sunnyside, DR Savage Road and Menlyn Taxi Rank.
This comes after Jabu Baloyi, a taxi driver in Pretoria, was shot and killed when he tried to intervene when taxi operators attempted to drive alleged drug peddlers out of the area last month.
This led to taxi drivers protesting in the city centre.
However, foreign-national stores were looted in the process.
Makata says their intention to protest after Baloyi's killing was legitimate.
"And it was blown out of proportion, it was dubbed 'xenophobia attack' because people took advantage of the situation," says Makata.
He adds because the looting and attacks happened in the name of the taxi industry, they feel obligated to set the record straight.
"We must come out and clear our name that we are against xenophobia because we are reliant on commuters and commuters know no nationality."
Listen below: