'They recruit municipal officials, they recruit political players, they recruit members of the SAPS. And that is something that has to be looked into,' said Western Cape chief director for transport regulation, Yasir Ahmed.
In response, municipalities issue fines and taxis are impounded. The illegal operators then decide to run to Cata or Codeta for protection and lobbying power.
He said the rival local organisations would end up paying fees to their newly adopted mother bodies for protection, and also allow the mother bodies to deploy additional taxis on the routes in their town. “Now operators both legal and illegal, informal traders, and even private companies are having to pay fees to taxi leaders or gangsters at the taxi ranks.
“There are reports of private companies and even staff transport companies being required to pay large amounts for annual permits or pay up to R3,000 release fees,” he said. “Vehicles with passengers in them are effectively hijacked and rerouted to ranks and only released on payment of these release fees. Staff and learner transport contracted by employers or parents are forced to pay for annual permits or registration,” he said.
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