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The MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Mr. Willies Mchunu, today (21/05/2015) met with Maphumulo Taxi Association following the resurfacing of taxi violence in the area in the past two weeks which left a tertiary student critically injured and a school learner sustaining minor injuries.

Tensions have been growing in the area following an election last month of a parallel structure by illegal operators who are contesting the legitimacy of the current Maphumulo Taxi Association.

Following this illegal election the Department of Transport met with both factions to resolve tensions and denounced the election of the parallel structure, re-affirming the existing Maphumulo Taxi Association leadership.

Despite this meeting, violence escalated in the area. Last week Monday a taxi travelling from Kranskop to Maphumulo was shot at and a school child was injured. On Tuesday this week there was a shootout at Maphumulo rank where a student from Boston College was shot and remains in ICU. Three taxis were also burnt.

MEC Mchunu is also planning to meet with the representatives of the parallel structure in order to take an informed decision on the future of taxi operations in Maphumulo.

“I am very concerned that this situation is now out of control as passengers' lives are at risk. As government we have done a lot of mediation in the area including a meeting that was held with the Premier to try and resolve these issues. It is time for us to take more sterner action in Maphumulo because our pleas for peace and calm are falling on deaf ears. I still want to do some further consultations with police, the Police Commissioner and meet the other structure so that our decisions will be well informed and in the best interest of the people of KwaMaphumulo,” said Mchunu.

Issued by KZN Transport