Acting National Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane has called on the taxi industry to ensure business continues as usual on June 30, urging operators to reject any attempts to disrupt transport services during planned nationwide demonstrations.
Image: Itumeleng English Independent Newspapers
Acting National Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane has appealed to the taxi industry to ensure that every taxi association, taxi owner, operator and driver across the country keeps business as usual on June 30.
Dimpane made the call on Wednesday evening after meeting with taxi industry umbrella body SANTACO.
She was joined by South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) president Abner Tsebe as part of preparations for planned demonstrations on June 30 led by the anti-migrant movement March and March.
Dimpane said the purpose of the meeting was “simple but important” - to speak directly to the leadership of the taxi industry because of its role in South Africa and the influence it has over millions of commuters and thousands of operators.
She said they made “a humble but firm request” to Santaco leadership.
“We have requested them to stand with law enforcement. We have requested them to stand with the people of South Africa.
“We have asked them to use their voice, influence and leadership to ensure that the taxi industry does not become part of any attempts to destabilise the country, disrupt economic activity or intimidate communities,” she told the media.
The top cop said the taxi industry is the backbone of public transport in South Africa.
“Every day, millions of people rely on taxis to get to work, school, hospitals and places of business.
“It is for this reason that we are appealing to every taxi association, every taxi owner, every operator and every driver across the country to ensure that 30 June remains business as usual,” she said.
Dimpane said they had appealed for continued transport services, for routes to remain open, and for rejection of any calls to block roads, intimidate commuters or disrupt public life.
“Most importantly, we appeal to them not to allow criminal elements to misuse the taxi industry for unlawful purposes.”
She said they had also asked Santaco to add its voice to the growing call for peace, restraint and respect for the rule of law.
Dimpane said they wanted assurances from every taxi rank, association and operator that there would be no highway or road blockages, no intimidation, no violence, no destruction of property and no disruption of public transport.
“We have appealed to the leadership of Santaco to send a clear message throughout the taxi industry that there must be no violence in the name of the taxi industry.”
“It must be business as usual,” she said.
“Our economy must continue to function. Our people must continue to go to work.”
“We know that the overwhelming majority of taxi operators are law-abiding citizens who work hard every day to provide an essential service.”
She urged operators not to be drawn into activities that could place lives at risk or undermine national stability.
She said the consequences of instability are felt most by ordinary South Africans.
“We have seen this before. When roads are blocked, workers cannot get to work. When transport is disrupted, learners cannot get to school. When businesses close, livelihoods are affected. When violence erupts, innocent people suffer.”
She said that is the main reason why the government was requesting Santaco and the broader taxi industry to act as ambassadors for peace.
“We are encouraged by the positive response we received from Santaco leadership today and by their commitment to engage their structures throughout the country.”
“We believe the taxi industry has an important role to play in ensuring that calm prevails and that communities reject calls for violence and disorder.”
Acting National Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane has urged the taxi industry to promote peace and maintain normal transport operations.
Image: GCIS
Dimpane assured South Africans that law enforcement agencies are fully prepared.
“We remind members of the public that the South African Police Service, together with our law enforcement partners, will be deployed throughout the country to ensure that public safety is maintained.”
“We will protect the constitutional rights of those who wish to protest peacefully and lawfully.”
However, she said any attempts to block roads, intimidate commuters, damage infrastructure, disrupt public transport networks or engage in violence will be dealt with swiftly and decisively.
“Where criminal acts occur, our police are on standby. We therefore call upon every taxi owner, every driver, every queue marshal, every association leader and every commuter to join us in ensuring that 30 June is remembered as a day of peace, responsibility and stability.”
She called on the public to reject violence, intimidation and lawlessness.
Meanwhile, earlier on Wednesday, leader of the March and March movement Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma said the organisation would not take responsibility for anything that goes wrong arising from nationwide protests planned for June 30, which call for undocumented foreign nationals to leave South Africa.
Speaking in Midrand, Johannesburg, she said responsibility for public order rests with the state.
She said the mobilisation stems from long-standing community frustrations over undocumented migration and government enforcement failures.
A coalition of 27 civil society groups has confirmed plans for nationwide protests next week on Tuesday, calling for undocumented foreign nationals to leave South Africa.
IOL News