The MEC for Roads and Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, joined by women in the taxi industry, led a prayer session and addressed the increasing taxi violence and killings in Dube, Soweto on April 10.
With the recent killing of a taxi driver in Diepkloof, this prayer session is essential in combating the rising taxi violence.
The MEC led a march by women in the taxi industry whose husbands were killed and community members who want an end to this at Uncle Toms Hall.
Diale-Tlabela raised a shutdown of taxi ranks in the province where there are killings. She said that since the beginning of the year, 59 people have been killed and no one arrested or held accountable. Women in the taxi industry also raised concerns about not feeling safe in the industry that brings bread to their tables.
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“Our agreement as the department is to close the taxi ranks for six months. We cannot play with people’s lives because not only are they killed, but also innocent citizens.”
She added it was clear the killings and shootings are not for routes only because there are continuous meetings held to address the conflict, however, they do not raise their problems there but resort to these killings.
Community member Lorcia Ngwyena said, “The taxi violence affects us and as a community because this leaves people as widows and children resorting to drugs.”
She said in the end she only hopes for peace in this unruly world. Diale-Tlabane added they will hold provincial prayers in the hope of intervening and stopping these gruesome killings.
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