After reports of taxi violence on Hendrik Potgieter Road, police report they are monitoring the situation.
On 12 September following a tip-off regarding taxi violence, police began monitoring sections of Hendrik Potgieter Road. When the unrest spread further down the road SAPS were forced to expand their operation over the entire road.
Reports suggest violence began shortly after 11am owing to an argument between two rival taxi associations. According to one taxi driver, who prefers to remain nameless, the fight started after a taxi driver from Dobsonville, Roodepoort, Leratong, Johannesburg Taxi Association (Dorljota) took a commuter on the Faraday Taxi Association (FTA) route along Hendrik Potgieter Road. FTA taxi drivers then forcefully removed the passenger from the taxi and allegedly assaulted the Dorljota driver. The situation was calmed by the taxi squad, patrollers for taxi associations who monitor taxi routes and whether marshall and route fees have been paid. Police said no case of assault had been opened.
The situation at the taxi rank on the corner of Hendrik Potgieter and Falls roads was tense, with taxi drivers wielding knobkerries and sticks and refusing to speak to the media. FTA taxi drivers allege police are targeting them by taking their taxis off the road. “Dorljota taxi owners are police officers; they use their ranks to impound our taxis to put us out of business so that they may have all commuters to themselves,” said an angry FTA driver.
Taxi drivers said although they were involved in talks resolving their disputes, commuter service will not be affected and will run as normal.
