‘Taxi Mafia’ believed to be behind attacks on Indian-owned buses PostNewspaperSA
Durban - An alleged “taxi Mafia” is believed to be behind attacks on buses operating in Newlands West, Durban. After the recent death of 23-year-old bus driver Sarvesh Gopichund, the Newlands West Bus Association believes the situation is going to become more volatile with the construction of the Midway Crossing Shopping Centre between the Lindelani Township and Newlands West.
“Our bus drivers are generally targeted when they begin work at 4.30am and when they end at 7.30pm. They have been told they will be killed or the bus set alight if they continued to work. We believe someone is influencing these attacks.”“We have taken drastic measures to ensure the safety of our drivers and commuters, and have employed armed security guards to ride with the drivers and some to follow the buses.
eThekwini metro police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Parbhoo Sewpersad confirmed the attacks were related to the taxi industry. “There is also a history of taxi people attacking buses when they want to grab the business of transporting passengers. The taxi industry is also notorious for its use of hitmen. The violence is all about taking over routes and expanding business. It is an old problem and is not getting any better because the authorities are not dealing with it properly.”
"Then there is the problem of police, municipal and the SAPS not ensuring that taxi operators act lawfully.” She said the officer had even alleged that in another case, in which he was about to arrest a notorious thug of a taxi operator, there was political interference.
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