MEC Kaunda to make announcement on the spate of taxi industry killings in Ladysmith
The MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Mr. Mxolisi Kaunda, will make a pronouncement today (Wednesday, 6 December 2017) on the extraordinary measures that government will undertake in Ladysmith following a spate of killings by taxi operators and innocent commuters.
The decision to evoke Section 91 of the National Land Transport Act, 2009, Act No. 5 of 2009, which gives the MEC power to apply extraordinary measures, is aimed at saving people’s lives.
It is also intended to bring stability in the taxi industry in Ladysmith and areas within the Alfred Duma Local Municipality, where approximately 71 lives have been lost since the outbreak of this conflict between Sizwe Transport Taxi Association and Klipriver Taxi Association.
Among those who died recently was the deputy chairperson of Klipriver Taxi Association, Mr. Ngobese, who was ambushed by assailants while traveling with his daughter, the driver and two bodyguards. There were 11 people who died in that incident, including teachers, a school clerk and a taxi driver whose minibus collided head on with Mr. Ngobese’s vehicle, which lost control upon being attacked. Two more operators were murdered on Friday (1 December 2017) and this led to the MEC’s decision to take extraordinary measures to save lives and to deal with lawlessness in the area.
A series of meetings have been conducted and presided over by MEC Kaunda and SANTACO with the two associations that are at loggerheads to try and resolve their conflicts and reach an amicable solution. These meetings have not borne the desired peace and stability, as people have continued to be killed in what the police aligned with the taxi conflicts in the area.
The media briefing will take place as follows:
Date: Wednesday, 6 December 2017
Venue: Alfred Duma Council Chamber
Time: 12h00
The media briefing will be followed by a public and stakeholders engagement where the MEC will announce his decision and the way-forward to the members of the public and public representatives.
The public meeting will take place as follows:
Date: Wednesday, 6 December 2017
Venue: Indoor Sports Centre
Time: 14h00
Media is invited and requested to make confirmations with Mandisi Mhlongo on:
Mandisi.mhlongo@kzntransport.gov.za
#MediaRelease
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