MEC Mamabolo first in the Taxi Violence Inquiry hot seat

The commission of inquiry into taxi violence is set to commence on Thursday in Emoyeni Conference Centre in Parktown, Johannesburg reports, Centurion Rekord.

Gauteng roads and transport MEC Jacob Mamabolo is the first to take to the hot seat of the commission led by Judge Jeremiah Shongwe.

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Gauteng roads and transport MEC Jacob Mamabolo

The commission follows a taxi summit held in July and a two-day road safety seminar that was held in Pretoria last month where taxi drivers etiquette towards passengers, industry violence and deaths were addressed.

“We hope the industry, which is one of the oldest businesses led by Africans, will change from being a gun-run industry to a smart modern business like-industry,” said Mamabolo.

READ: Taxi operators to undergo advanced driving training to curb road fatalities

The commission’s mandate, as published by the Daily Maverick is to investigate:

  • The underlying reasons for the recurring conflict, violence, fatalities and instability within the minibus taxi-type service industry within Gauteng;
  • The activities of operators, legal and illegal, as well as any other group or person that contributes to the recurring conflict, violence, fatalities and instability;
  • The provision of minibus taxi transport services authorised by both interchange-based and direct route-based permits and licences; and
  • How the minibus taxi business model, including the formation and management of minibus taxi associations, contributes to the recurring conflict, violence, fatalities and instability.

“Members of the public, community organisations, minibus taxi associations, drivers, operators, conductors and rank marshals who have information which may be relevant to the commission and who want to give evidence are invited to contact the commission secretary,” reports Daily Maverick.

The commission is expected to wrap its investigations and submit its findings in six months.