Taxi owners called to account over high death toll

26 May 2016 - 19:37 By Penwell Dlamini

Gauteng MEC of Community Safety Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane is planning to hold massive meeting with all the minibus taxi operators in the province to address the issue of road safety Her spokesperson Thapelo Moiloa told TMG Digital that the MEC was concerned with the high rate of fatalities in the accidents involving minibus taxis in Gauteng.“We have seen a high number of accidents resulting in fatalities which involves minibus taxis and buses. Following the one in Randfontein that claimed many lives‚ we even met with taxi operators and they agreed that they would observe the laws of the road‚” he said.After that meeting‚ the behaviour of taxi drivers on the road had not changed‚ he added.Moiloa said the law puts the taxi owner or operator on the spot as the one who is responsible in ensuring that the vehicle is roadworthy and that the driver of the minibus taxi is fit to transport the public. This is the reason the department wants to meet all of the taxi operators in the province to deal with the issues.“We are saying let us come and talk and see if we cannot find a solution to this problem‚” said Moiloa.The summit is expected to be held on 10 and 11 June 2016.The department is currently trying to find a venue big enough to host all taxi operators in Gauteng.In April‚ 13 people died when a minibus taxi collided with a truck on the R41 in Randfontein...

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