“Picking people up is our business”: Santaco doesn’t want you to pick up hitchhikers

The chairman of Mpumalanga Santaco says he has the right to prevent drivers from picking up passengers on public roads.

The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) has warned drivers to avoid picking up hitchhikers on taxi routes.

This comes after a recent confrontation in Mpumalanga during which taxi association patrollers allegedly drove away in the driver’s car, demanding R2,500 from him after he offered to give a neighbor a lift.

Santaco says that unlike drivers, taxi associations have permits to transport passengers on specific routes.

I keep talking 702Santaco Mpumalanga chairwoman Fanyana Sibanyoni said the association had the right to prevent private drivers from picking up passengers on designated taxi routes.

“Picking up people on the road is our business. We have a license for this and they (drivers) are not allowed to pick up people,” Sibanyoni said.

The task of taxi patrols is to protect taxis

He then reiterated that drivers are “breaking (our) laws” by picking up passengers without permission, saying this constitutes unfair competition for taxis.

According to Santaco National spokeswoman Rebecca Phala, the taxi patrols’ job is to look after the welfare of commuters, not to question drivers.

“The interrogation that some patrol officers conduct on a civilian is not part of their duties. They shouldn’t do this,” she said.

Additionally, Phala mentioned that drivers are not allowed to load hitchhikers into their vehicles.

“The message we want South Africans to understand is that if you’re charging people just because you’re trying to get gas money or something, it’s wrong. You shouldn’t do this.

Taxis patrollers demanded a fine of R2,500 for giving a neighbor a lift

According to Sowetanaan Mpumalanga man has fallen victim to taxi drivers after they reportedly took his car and demanded a R2,500 fine to return it after he gave a lift to a neighbor.

Driver Themba Mahlangu drove to Mbombela on Thursday, accompanied by a neighbor who had to deal with tax matters at the South African Revenue Service. After returning the car, Mahlangu waited for the neighbor to return home, but as she was getting into the car, the taxi drivers allegedly took his keys and drove off in his vehicle.

“They took my keys and drove away, insisting that I pay R2,500 to get my car back,” Mahlangu explained.

“It’s frustrating – they treated me like a criminal for simply giving my neighbor a ride.”

Mahlangu went to the police station and informed officers of the location of his car, but they allegedly refused to help, saying: “We do not deal with taxi-related matters.”

Mahlangu called on his brothers for help and together they faced the patrols. However, his brother paid R2,500 before the car was finally returned that afternoon.

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