Update Video
MOSSEL BAY NEWS AND VIDEOS - On Thursday, 2 May taxis participated in a legal protest and proceeded from KwaNonqaba to the Mossel Bay Municipality 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 (PRDP'S).
The taxis parked in Marsh Street and hundreds of participants 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.
Request and or complaints in the memorandum included:
- erasing of traffic fines;
- fines for the vehicle must be written out under the owner's name and not under the driver's, for example tyre-related fines;
- fines given for skipping stop signs and traffic lights should be made out under the driver's name;
- provincial and municipal traffic authorities must stop turning a blind eye to illegal operators, such as bakkies and trucks which load up people and learners;
- drop-off and pick-up points must be created for taxis, for example in Louis Fourie Road;
- proper taxi ranks must be created for Langeberg Mall, Mosselbaai Mall and KwaNonqaba Mall which are fenced and sheltered;
- the Provincial Traffic Department must remain in its designated area and stop harassing drivers;
- Antoinette Snyders should be placed in the position vacated by Kadisi Machaba, who has resigned.
Watch two videos below:
Members of the taxi associations negotiating with executive mayor, Alderman Harry Levendal (right), who is looking at the memorandum here.
Members of the Public Order Policing Unit (POPS) kept eye as taxi owners and drivers danced and sang in front of the municipal building.
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