Police beef up presence in strife-torn Mamelodi

04 July 2015 - 16:52 By RDM News Wire

Police have beefed up their presence in strife-torn Mamelodi east of Pretoria which was reported to be calm on Saturday after three days of violence during which taxi operators disrupted services and several commuters were wounded. Taxi drivers have been protesting over AutoPax taking over bus routes used by Putco up until June 30. Several buses were stoned on Friday and five people were wounded‚ one seriously‚ when shots were fired at a Putco bus.A police spokesman‚ Colonel Lungelo Dlamini‚ said on Saturday that police deployments had been increased in Mamelodi and that a task team consisting of detectives and crime intelligence officers were already at work to bring those responsible for the violence to book‚ warning that they would “face the full might of the law”. “Although the situation has remained quiet since yesterday midday‚ police will not allow any person or group of people to take the law into their own hands. Police are also appealing to the commuters to remain calm and expose those who are responsible for violence.“Whilst talks are continuing between the affected parties‚ police will not tolerate any lawlessness. Safety and security remains a priority for all the law enforcement agencies operating in the area‚” Col Dlamini said.He appealed to members of the community to isolate those perpetrating violence and report any suspicious activity.Mamelodi Taxi Association members want control over the routes formerly used by Putco‚ but a temporary‚ three-month contract has already been issued to AutoPax‚ a state-owned entity.At a meeting on Friday‚ attended by Gauteng Premier David Makhura‚ City of Tshwane mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa‚ the national department of transport‚ “community” representatives and other “stakeholders”‚ it was decided that AutoPax would continue its bus service in the troubled township.“The meeting unanimously agreed that AutoPax will continue to render the services as per the interim contract agreement whilst engagements with the taxi industry continue‚” said a statement issue by the Gauteng department of roads and transport Friday.Additional law enforcement agencies would be deployed to restore order‚ according to the statement.Makhura said commuters had the right to use any mode of transport they chose‚ basing their decisions on price‚ safety and reliability.Another meeting will be held on Sunday‚ 5 July‚ that will include government representatives‚ transport interest groups as well as Mamelodi community organisations and residents...

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