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MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Thirty passengers spent a night in the open at a service station on the N2 outside Mossel Bay last week after the taxis they were travelling in were impounded.
The passengers, among them children and elderly persons, had travelled from Cape Town in Uncedo Service Taxi Association vehicles.
According to information received, some were en route to Kentani in the Eastern Cape to attend a funeral, while others were making use of the window period allowing travel between provinces amid the Covid-19 national lockdown.
More photos: Taxi passengers stranded
Head of the Provincial Traffic Department in Mossel Bay, Reinet Sarikakis, confirmed on enquiry that the taxis were impounded because the drivers did not have the correct documentation in terms of the National Land Transport Act. The passengers were instructed to disembark at the Engen One Stop shop and service station on the N2 outside Mossel Bay on the way to Cape Town. They spent the night on Thursday, 7 May at the service station.
'Sitting everywhere'
When the manager of the service station, Dirkie van Niekerk, arrived at 06:00 on Friday, 8 May, he was met with the sight of people sitting everywhere in front of the convenience shop, with their luggage.
Taking pity on them immediately, he offered them biscuits, sandwiches and coffee.
"Despite not really knowing why they were just left at the service station, they were surprisingly calm and complacent," Van Niekerk told the Mossel Bay Advertiser this week.
Mossel Bay Advertiser freelance journalist Donovan Poole, who per chance arrived on the scene on Friday, 8 May, spoke to members of the Meme family who were among the passengers.
'Distressed'
"They had been at the service station since 21:00 the previous night and were due to attend a funeral on Saturday in Kentani. They were distressed about how they were treated and at the thought of missing the funeral," Poole said.
Local chairman of Uncedo Service Taxi Association, Songezo Bizwaphi, on visiting the KwaNonqaba Police Station on Friday, 8 May, by chance met the drivers of the impounded taxis and learnt of their predicament.
He was aghast to learn that the passengers were left stranded at the Engen One Stop without shelter since the previous night. Rallying some of the local Uncedo taxis together, he ferried the group to the KwaNonqaba Police Station, where they were further assisted.
Sergeant Kappie Kapp, spokersperson of the KwaNonqaba Police, said that although the police were not capacitated to handle such emergencies, the station commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Asiza Mandongana remained adamant that service delivery to the community included offering assistance at all times. "We will have to consider putting a protocol in place with other departments, should more of these incidents occur."
Act humanely
According to Bizwaphi, the KwaNonqaba Police saw to the needs of passengers who were left in the lurch regarding their travel permits. "It was sad, but due to the delay caused, some of the people had to return to Cape Town. They were crying." The others were allowed to continue on their journey to the Eastern Cape.
Bizwaphi expressed his concern since the passengers did not seem to understand why they were instructed to disembark and thus, suffered further discomfort and inconvenience. "During this period of lockdown, I understand that the authorities must to their jobs, but what about the people? Shouldn't they be taken into account?"
Dirkie van Niekerk echoed this sentiment. "The law should be enforced, but surely one must act humanely."
Passengers, among them children and the elderly, spent the night in the open with their luggage.
- Van Niekerk told the Advertiser that on Saturday, 9 May, another 10 passengers travelling from the Eastern Cape to Cape Town were stranded at the Engen One Stop shop until Sunday because their taxi was impounded.
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