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Taxi-related tensions in Kakamas reached boiling point yesterday, as commuters were pulled out of vehicles with their belongings, in a tug of war between warring taxi associations. See pics here and here.

This is not the first time that such transport thuggery has occurred in the area. Recently, a mother and her disabled child, who were on their way out of Augrabies to the hospital in Kakamas, were also forced out of the vehicle they were travelling in.

The situation stems from the lack of public transport in Kai !Garib, in places such as Cillie, Lutzburg and other towns, that saw people, including a growing number of foreign nationals, using their private vehicles, with Lesotho number plates, to ferry commuters to work and school, based on monthly contractual agreements.

Local residents want to change the transport industry and establish a local taxi organisation. More than 20 of the 65 members of the upcoming local organisation submitted applications for permits, some of which have already been gazetted, but they get no further than this with the Department of Transport.

The situation is growing increasingly volatile and a number of members of the as yet unofficial local taxi organisation, have been attacked by members of the two other formally recognised taxi organisations. Roads have also been barricaded by these two organisations, preventing commuters from making use of the still unregistered local organisation.

While there have been many meetings with the Department of Transport, the MEC, the Mayor and the Municipal Manager since 2019, the situation fails to get resolved, leaving increasingly frustrated commuters at the mercy of the transporters.

If the situation is allowed to fester any longer, the DA fears that it will result in bloodshed.

The DA will table a motion in the next council meeting, calling for the municipality to convene a stakeholder meeting with the three organisations, the MEC of Transport and Safety, the Premier and the Provincial Police Commissioner, because it is increasingly clear that there is currently no political will to find a safe and agreeable solution to extremely volatile transport problem in Kai !Garib.

Issued by Ralph Cloete, Cllr - Kai !Garib municipality