The Witwatersrand Taxi Association (Wata) has accused Gauteng MEC for roads and transport Ismail Vadi of being selfish by deciding to shut down major Soweto routes. On Tuesday, Vadi announced the closure of ranks and routes in Soweto‚ including Mofolo Kwa-Mthethwa Informal Taxi Rank‚ Makhetha Stores Informal Taxi Rank‚ Dube Station Taxi Rank‚ Makhetha Garage (Phefeni) Taxi Rank and Uncle Tom’s Taxi Rank. This follows a protracted route dispute between two warring associations in the township‚ namely Wata and Nancefield Dube West Taxi Association (Nanduwe). "The MEC isn’t a person who comes to the ground and speak to us taxi owners. He undermines us and thinks we are illiterate human beings who can’t sit down and have a decent conversation‚" said a taxi owner operating under Wata‚ who asked not to be named. "He is totally different from his predecessors and MECs from other provinces who are, and were, able to have a round table discussion and come with solutions." He said recent viol...

Subscribe now to unlock this article.

Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).

There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.

Cancel anytime.

Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.