City of Cape Town’s MMC for Safety and Security, JP Smith, confronts taxi associates over reroute tactics. Photo: JP Smith/ Facebook.
JP Smith warns taxi bosses for rerouting approaching taxis from roadblocks
City of Cape Town’s MMC for Safety and Security JP Smith warns taxi associates against rerouting all approaching taxis from roadblocks.
City of Cape Town’s MMC for Safety and Security, JP Smith, confronts taxi associates over reroute tactics. Photo: JP Smith/ Facebook.
A Kraaifontein taxi operation led by the City of Cape Town’s MMC for Safety and Security, JP Smith, would’ve been a better success thanks to taxi associates who tampered with the success rate.
JP SMITH DISCOVERS NEW TREND BY TAXI ASSOCIATION
Explaining what happened, JP Smith said, “Yesterday we held an operation in Kraaifontein where we discovered after we had impounded the first lot of taxis, taxi associates had gathered ahead to warn and reroute all approaching taxis, in order to avoid them from being prosecuted”.
“When I went down to the group, within minutes their group increased from 5 to around 15 with additional vehicles of theirs pulling up. I warned them their actions were constituting to be defeating the ends of justice and we were going to begin arresting such persons,” he said.
“Thank you to Mr Sila, leadership from Blu Waters association who arrived as well. In our discussion, I made it quite clear: the lawless behaviour of taxi drivers will not be tolerated, and we would not be intimidated by the bullying tactics as seen. He too agreed on us needing to prosecute the lawless drivers so readily seen to be operating recklessly on our roads,” JP Smith explained.
Smith
“I will be providing your contact details to Minister McKenzie as agreed, for you to handle your permit concerns.”
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MMC RECOGNISES EVERY CRY ABOUT RECKLESS BEHAVIOUR
“To everyone out there, who welcomes our hard-hitting approach to ending the reckless and inconsiderate driving behaviour of lawless taxi drivers, we are inundated with your complaints and requests for enforcement operations. While our resources are limited, we will continue with the operations that are already seeing over 50 taxis impounded every day,” he assured.
JP Smith added: “But we implore leadership of the taxi associations. Use your leadership positions to bring about change within your industry. Do not allow your organisation to become overridden with criminal intent and extortion characteristics. Respect the law and you will allow the transport industry to flourish”.
ALSO READ: JP Smith: 109 taxis impounded for non-compliance, Western Cape
