In recent weeks, e-hailing taxi services have come under attack with robberies and hijacking being some of the problems drivers face. In the Greenwood Park area, both e-hailing drivers and passengers have been experiencing threats and ill treatment from the local taxis.
Furious about the abuse that has been taking place between the taxis and e-hailing drivers/private taxi shuttles, residents said that they have had enough and called a meeting to address the issue, on Tuesday, 23 February.
The meeting took place at the Havelock Road Sports Ground and was also attended by the Metro and Greenwood Park SAPS. Community members forwarded 132 signatures in support of the meeting. Bobby Maharajh, Ward 34 councillor, said that it was brought to his attention that local taxi drivers were pulling people out of e-hailing cars and that most of the passengers were women.
According to Maharajh, the matter was reported to the SAPS but very little has been done.
“The commencement of the meeting was a little tense when the taxi association officials arrived. Their concerns were quickly addressed and they left. Thereafter the meeting settled down and it was unbelievable as residents expressed their concerns with facts and great emotion,” said Maharajh.
He said that law enforcement will review the facts that they have been provided with and will attend to the residents’ grievances.
“My thanks goes to Metro Police and the officers from Greenwood Park SAPS for their contributions and ensuring that the meeting remained positive and also to the community for maintaining a high level of decorum,” he added.
