MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The Mossel Bay Municipality has responded to a memorandum from three taxi associations, demanding, among others, that their traffic fines should be erased permanently by the Traffic Department.
This follows a legal protest by taxis in Mossel Bay on Thursday, 2 May, when taxis proceeded from KwaNonqaba to the municipal offices in Marsh Street.
The taxi drivers and taxi owners from Uncedo Service Taxi Association, Mobta Taxi Association and Codetta Service Taxi Association said in a statement the main reason for the demonstration was to urge the Traffic Department to erase their traffic fines so that they could apply for Public Driving Permits (PRDPs).
The taxis parked in Marsh Street and hundreds of protestors gathered in front of the municipal building, where Mossel Bay executive mayor, Alderman Harry Levendal, met them.
There, they handed over a memorandum to Mayor Levendal, giving the municipality seven days to respond.
Municipal manager, Advocate Thys Giliomee, said in a statement that all fines issued in respect of the National Road Traffic Act and National Land Transportation Act are recognised as infringements committed contrary to recognised road traffic legislation.
"The Department of Public Prosecutions is the only legal institution to withdraw a fine for an infringement, where such an infringement is being contested by an infringer in a Court of Law."
Giliomee says it is, however, suggested that the issue on the outstanding warrants of arrest, prohibiting taxi drivers from applying for PRDPs, would require a discussion with the Public Prosecutions office.
The associations also requested proper taxi ranks at various malls in Mossel Bay.
Giliomee says the municipality will undertake deliberations with the mentioned private sector entities to acquire their cooperation in providing facilities on the mall premises for the public transport sector.
Members of the Public Order Policing Unit (POPS) kept eye as taxi owners and drivers danced and sang in front of the municipal building.
The scene in Marsh Street, where taxis parked in front of the municipal building.
Read a previous article: Taxi driver, owners demonstrate
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