South Africa P.I.G.: BLACK TAXIS

Showing posts with label BLACK TAXIS. Show all posts

Arrive alive and neurotic or in a coffin

This is a warning to the people who don’t live in South Africa, but plan to travel here at some point or another. Please note, if you’re from a country where you can rely on public transport, this post is especially for you. You need to note that public transport in South Africa is not safe – and shouldn’t be attempted unless you’re really brave. Rather consider renting a car from Avis, or any of those agents… In South Africa, yes there are buses . And yes, there are taxis. But you need to note that when you use either of these it might be the last thing you ever do. These are not taxis in the typical Western sense of the term like you know them in the UK or the US. The industry is made up mostly of 16-seater commuter kombi buses which are more often than not unsafe or not roadworthy. Minibus taxi drivers are known for their disregard for the road rules and for dangerously overloading their vehicles with passengers of sometimes upto as many as 33 passengers. The taxi drivers have long since been notorious in South Africa. Most minibus taxis drive at high speed like the devil himself. Quoting Thomas Thale: <blockquote>“MINIBUS taxis are by far the cheapest and most popular form of public transport in South Africa, used mainly by the urban and rural poor. But if you are a visitor to Johannesburg, using a taxi can prove bewildering and even frightening.”</blockquote>Buses are all the same. In the past month I have seen two bus accidents on my route to work, and three taxi accidents in Pretoria. Just to give you an idea, I live about 7km from work. All these accidents were due to speeding & reckless driving (e.g. running a red traffic light). Obviously depending on which bus driver you land up with, but most of the ones I come across drive like they stole the bus. Firstly they endanger the passengers – secondly normal road users are subject to share the road with these people and public anger against minibus taxi drivers is reaching boiling point. Car accidents in South Africa are as common as snow in Russia. Everyone knows someone who’s been in an accident – if they weren’t in one themself. Its strange how we just put up with it really?? Its strange how people get arrested for not paying parking tickets, but bus drivers and taxi driver get to endanger thousands of people’s lives each day – without any penalization. I have never seen the Metro police give a ticket to a taxi or a bus driver. Maybe I’m just never in the right place. The Metro police don’t intervene because … I don’t know why?… The thugs that cause the carnage on SA roads. The 2010/2011 Festive Season took its toll yet again - over 1300 people died on our roads and multiple others were injured in car crashes across the country. South African road safety statistics are far from comforting. One in two out of approximately 150 000 public minibus taxis is involved in an accident every year. According to the AA, it recorded an annual total of 70 000 minibus taxi crashes, indicating that taxis in the country amount for double the rate of crashes compared to all other passenger vehicles. According to media reports, at least 74 people were killed and 203 injured in minibus taxi accidents across the country in August and early September alone. So if you're really worried about staying alive out there, do NOT take a minibus taxi. You're much more likely to die on the road especially when Arrive Alive and the rest of the nanny-state crew can't be bothered to make a big deal of it. Too little (if any) law and order has left the public transport sector in chaos which in turn has resulted in minibus taxi drivers having scant respect for their vehicles, the safety of their passengers and no respect for other vehicles sharing the roads with them. What gives? Why does the Arrive Alive campaign make so much noise during the holidays, and go so silent for the rest of the year? As if the government's scare-programme and its apparently opportunistic traffic law enforcement over the holidays isn't enough we get advertising campaigns threatening rape in AIDS-infested prisons. Why does anyone think it acceptable to terrify people during the festive season with advertisements that suggest gang-rape in prison as an acceptable penalty for drink-driving? Yes, there is no excuse for drunk driving. The same goes for any other dangerous driving or unsafe vehicles. Report bad minibus taxi drivers to the national traffic call centre on 0861 400 800 (which surprise, surprise, is "in the process of upgrading its system"). Death, violence and carnage - Seeing is believing ... <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator" align="left"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtElsBhMOgtBpE_QGF98oTiuVNu6CGgGcqUyqS1JZyPujSuT2Ei6AGMBhZ8yP8WV_kLX7lReRk-vldwVSNhzLJbpyzeQbL5a3hba9l22wPcfystWLrzXF501LqIEQGr1ncvopbGv0BzQk7/s1600/Taxi-acc-08092010026-300x225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtElsBhMOgtBpE_QGF98oTiuVNu6CGgGcqUyqS1JZyPujSuT2Ei6AGMBhZ8yP8WV_kLX7lReRk-vldwVSNhzLJbpyzeQbL5a3hba9l22wPcfystWLrzXF501LqIEQGr1ncvopbGv0BzQk7/s640/Taxi-acc-08092010026-300x225.jpg" width="640" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4_0BAS1Ip77BU03FeJOpvC616co1B4GlPOZ1aQ2oKAqWtNxPUqsX98BuixfpiFMw40szY9dJTNHYWAjCZEB7J5ex8-xiRiv9MJslCB99Gy3Ghdhhjzh6YguIGtBPVv_TSXDQPC3aHfc3c/s1600/Taxis-R114-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; 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MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJqDnenagx0JMKoIFOYa_xYXspoflpVxECoHTNfXsmAskb-lZCI-lDDNKEAEkXP5Z35UDNtPokNv29C2-ahUnDUUf4rudBMzulJ3k5NUYdQ76almPJrfFO3Uluw-aCvcc8rQv0a7PTr8bU/s640/Taxi-accident-KZN-2.jpg" width="640" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWFNpxkc5AWCGWh9WhAi4Ursa4qYhyphenhyphenLBcGa3D63SeLTDSJBiC1Gl-31rBrs5C42UA3fcodssYq2qZngUwrCSxd8JVMIQhZVg9QHkjhgnhHkYxm0UddQ_v_xoPtv86qDbhBVZg1wOh53Kh/s1600/taxi-collision.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em"><img border="0" height="401" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWFNpxkc5AWCGWh9WhAi4Ursa4qYhyphenhyphenLBcGa3D63SeLTDSJBiC1Gl-31rBrs5C42UA3fcodssYq2qZngUwrCSxd8JVMIQhZVg9QHkjhgnhHkYxm0UddQ_v_xoPtv86qDbhBVZg1wOh53Kh/s640/taxi-collision.bmp" width="640" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKa9Ba2-F2bIxHHWjhMZ6Ry1jJdf7iTPZMxbfI0f2SDcNR4eoPh7GSWIytsyEzr9fF3c2-p78iOCyctb6M6-hjObXmNYOB7z5BMkNWB5P1p3p3AqbDIdYVS2Oowb1DdAoMpqyDeraD4j8B/s1600/taxi-mini-bus.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; 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MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDudvK8mVZE2hvs595vAgOS0bGdNmE-SLMv9jUqEDivns6qXmmJpD-Kr8Arv8izwDvCkZPwo-0FReyrctjPcJeQNxU3PGKqqSa2A-nE-r0maIHuWiJXJauZ22_y6vvNBlyaeaiJifFTOTe/s640/taxis-acc.bmp" width="640" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5aLUdC0Ob9yGUkuSt-OyKCA8acw7jXmKzIWWkG16cdlwIHGF1FQ1V4f8wymiW2qZMfJ97Bo0E3TX_-exCiw-8c9-nelpFUJPszyPd3Ri7x4LPh0dSexiOmDzoC9h72ZrhR5ldBRS9VMg/s1600/Taxis-deadly-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5aLUdC0Ob9yGUkuSt-OyKCA8acw7jXmKzIWWkG16cdlwIHGF1FQ1V4f8wymiW2qZMfJ97Bo0E3TX_-exCiw-8c9-nelpFUJPszyPd3Ri7x4LPh0dSexiOmDzoC9h72ZrhR5ldBRS9VMg/s640/Taxis-deadly-3.jpg" width="640" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPN-OYMDlyt60azhv1isFnWQO-2vfEDZuDsDXELUv7zPSWSLdKywaWARkPVR7fgJG97SaRhju7CooXhLIV9NgwEhhTB4bm9dOmKdAG2inaykF3hGK1DgoCZq02vIkuAzoTapnPdRCVujf/s1600/Taxis-deadly-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPN-OYMDlyt60azhv1isFnWQO-2vfEDZuDsDXELUv7zPSWSLdKywaWARkPVR7fgJG97SaRhju7CooXhLIV9NgwEhhTB4bm9dOmKdAG2inaykF3hGK1DgoCZq02vIkuAzoTapnPdRCVujf/s640/Taxis-deadly-4.jpg" width="640" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQir9wh2Tg-5_p4U0KbwQujbBbPnoHFv7PQcAAdLg88sXsnUdCp-j1h7Ae3o8Bz7mjw7WzwZOkyFtOBWej45TgomqsD2KmLKgKi9snMOELrIi0cdIFGY7nFxan9ra8F4cEtWSWoFm06doZ/s1600/Taxis-deadly-1024x685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQir9wh2Tg-5_p4U0KbwQujbBbPnoHFv7PQcAAdLg88sXsnUdCp-j1h7Ae3o8Bz7mjw7WzwZOkyFtOBWej45TgomqsD2KmLKgKi9snMOELrIi0cdIFGY7nFxan9ra8F4cEtWSWoFm06doZ/s640/Taxis-deadly-1024x685.jpg" width="640" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_USV-OG2pFwbsir7StmtXX2IVmSPeWn0TTOaeu4IvIFoNIsSFzDcWsqPT8EK5_1rHi4EWK6qmmstDxZetXnZmvxx67XrzRUJAXtVpbW66dnum57zB9nCp9bC1R7CEG8pAKe8dRjSe9dh/s1600/taxi-train-accident-25-aug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_USV-OG2pFwbsir7StmtXX2IVmSPeWn0TTOaeu4IvIFoNIsSFzDcWsqPT8EK5_1rHi4EWK6qmmstDxZetXnZmvxx67XrzRUJAXtVpbW66dnum57zB9nCp9bC1R7CEG8pAKe8dRjSe9dh/s640/taxi-train-accident-25-aug.jpg" width="640" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRymSe1NUij8u6KTCQSlPyXwBcmgtRsd5SwH2d06ATxv9-M3XXqUfX1yvifDoPQv5LZazRACJ2eU-SMKS6iZRaUUjFzYK8i3z4fAL42SO9RAa2-GtkE14qPshyphenhyphen_zLXRgcrtiKutu9sg0U/s1600/taxi-train-accident-25-aug-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em"><img border="0" height="483" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRymSe1NUij8u6KTCQSlPyXwBcmgtRsd5SwH2d06ATxv9-M3XXqUfX1yvifDoPQv5LZazRACJ2eU-SMKS6iZRaUUjFzYK8i3z4fAL42SO9RAa2-GtkE14qPshyphenhyphen_zLXRgcrtiKutu9sg0U/s640/taxi-train-accident-25-aug-3.jpg" width="640" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFiaXUSrHtTHIQ1xHOwsuGsEdsDF8Bvd5SjQJ_-MASOTCxNcpp1TgWXYZ_xHnxfrEE467Zh-YCtmtck4T2tZq0WQD3pPFLQs52MJg3QNUZIy_pJ2IlDPgjJMK3fZU_D0Vt_i6r_FM1y379/s1600/taxi-truck-crash.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFiaXUSrHtTHIQ1xHOwsuGsEdsDF8Bvd5SjQJ_-MASOTCxNcpp1TgWXYZ_xHnxfrEE467Zh-YCtmtck4T2tZq0WQD3pPFLQs52MJg3QNUZIy_pJ2IlDPgjJMK3fZU_D0Vt_i6r_FM1y379/s640/taxi-truck-crash.bmp" width="640" /></a> </div>And the death, violence and carnage continues 4 killed, 44 hurt in horror N1 crash - Today 2011-01-03 Four people were killed and 44 others injured when a packed minibus taxi and a bakkie collided along the N1 freeway near Bela Bela on Monday afternoon, paramedics said. Paramedics arrived on scene and found both vehicles mangled near the roadway, Netcare 911 spokesperson Jeff Wicks said. Ten people sustained critical injuries, 20 others suffered serious injuries and 13 had from minor to moderate injuries. All the injured people were taken to Meulmed Hospital and various other nearby health centres. The cause of the accident was not known. ("stupid is as stupid does")

Arrive alive and neurotic or in a coffin

This is a warning to the people who don’t live in South Africa, but plan to travel here at some point or another. Please note, if you’re fro...

3:38 PM

Gunmen open fire on Soccer World Cup shuttle buses

Nine people were injured in two separate attacks when gunmen opened fire on Rea Vaya buses in Soweto -- wounding four in Orlando West -- and left one of them in a critical condition. In the second incident a driver and four passengers were injured when a bus was shot at in Moletsane. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEG7uTsRyCvwxCg4kibpwUGpYQnUYkN7CPa2jjIUKk-ZJA14ti5SujMPz7kJl5v0bXgcMcGlYWbmB7umSmnA-PLkPBw1n9c6vb7UvNvy324j517q857Z1GjGmxxzpnydPbbN5V_JFC4CXc/s1600/BRT+buses+in+Jhb.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466640384637217106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEG7uTsRyCvwxCg4kibpwUGpYQnUYkN7CPa2jjIUKk-ZJA14ti5SujMPz7kJl5v0bXgcMcGlYWbmB7umSmnA-PLkPBw1n9c6vb7UvNvy324j517q857Z1GjGmxxzpnydPbbN5V_JFC4CXc/s400/BRT+buses+in+Jhb.png" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 385px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 253px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>The network of shuttle buses link Soweto with central Johannesburg, making stops near the downtown Ellis Park, and Soccer City, venue for the June 11 opening of the Soccer World Cup and the July 11 final. The Rea Vaya bus rapid transit (BRT) system which aimed to break the monopoly of black minibus taxis on public roads, was introduced in August last year. At each step, SA's famously aggressive taxi drivers have protested violently against the programme, burning tyres to obstruct roads and firing shots at BRT buses. Two people were injured by gunshots during last year's protests. A Rea Vaya driver, whose house was petrol-bombed last month, claimed he was targeted because he left his job as a taxi driver to work for BRT. - Sapa

Gunmen open fire on Soccer World Cup shuttle buses

Nine people were injured in two separate attacks when gunmen opened fire on Rea Vaya buses in Soweto -- wounding four in Orlando West -- an...

12:34 AM

Forty-nine schoolchildren crammed into 16-seater taxi

A taxi driver was arrested on Wednesday after he was caught transporting 49 schoolchildren crammed into a 16-seater minibus taxi between KwaZulu-Natal's Mooi River and Estcourt, the Department of Transport said. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7081n4Jw8mZsYdZ0BRJfcNskGR7b7V9HfZQokS-wPsIDhj14Adj8pnFctERmFLcASmP6WwC3Ck6pODO8Yw39EO46c0J6cdU6hJH7B82eyOdjj8R9GIXnWRKKg8bFUJCCAzp5LLh5vvk7/s1600-h/mini-bus-black-taxi.bmp"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUD95eNrNR7kE4Bf7YgaOKgC80Mu6xrxhfw5e1LOtz0BX0QAFqMLFdq4b1E1sFq3dpa0PkUU8uJ8rIZggDGUUQM_p_dtA7rzohNvXqs5HRgyV-vVk8WLKyEP8fN25uHXTBkFpXUdp6OPCA/s1600-h/Minibus.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434795605697462866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUD95eNrNR7kE4Bf7YgaOKgC80Mu6xrxhfw5e1LOtz0BX0QAFqMLFdq4b1E1sFq3dpa0PkUU8uJ8rIZggDGUUQM_p_dtA7rzohNvXqs5HRgyV-vVk8WLKyEP8fN25uHXTBkFpXUdp6OPCA/s400/Minibus.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" /></a>What made the situation even worse was that the driver was five times over the legal alcohol limit, said Department of Transport spokesperson Logan Maistry. Road Traffic Inspectorate chief Collin Govender said the pupils, who were between three and 13 years old, had been at huge risk. The taxi, which was certified to carry 16 passengers, had been travelling to Estcourt, where the children went to school. "The children were sitting on top of each other. It's outrageous when you consider that these are school children who were being transported by someone in possession of a public driver's permit. Driving under the influence of alcohol is one thing, but when you consider the lives of all these children it shows how irresponsible the driver is," said Govender. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKyy7XxW0eJFZuNbqyxqBcOsvahwKwmcpTQzLJMMHPBsekNu_2tbklfTlqTHzBUqleX78HPkOgrwogWVNs4gjtMoG2TWXGghqVcBO2r0YwzNrYky_Gbe5togs5mabfkoIF-XKMAhqIJDB/s1600-h/taxi_overload_3.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434795609776742722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKyy7XxW0eJFZuNbqyxqBcOsvahwKwmcpTQzLJMMHPBsekNu_2tbklfTlqTHzBUqleX78HPkOgrwogWVNs4gjtMoG2TWXGghqVcBO2r0YwzNrYky_Gbe5togs5mabfkoIF-XKMAhqIJDB/s400/taxi_overload_3.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 324px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 236px" /></a>"His vision was blurred. It's 30km from Mooi River to Estcourt and he still had to drive to different schools when he arrived in the town to drop off the children. The children had to remain in that (uncomfortable) position until they got to school. They had their school bags with them and the conductor was also in the taxi," he said. "We are fortunate (that nothing happened). This was a disaster waiting to happen." The man was charged with overloading and drunk driving. He will appear in the Mooi River Magistrate's Court today.

Forty-nine schoolchildren crammed into 16-seater taxi

A taxi driver was arrested on Wednesday after he was caught transporting 49 schoolchildren crammed into a 16-seater minibus taxi between Kwa...

7:50 AM

Taxi driver knocked down school girl off scooter, then drove over her

Taxi driver guilty of killing schoolgirl <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3dL4riHZwUXiVuwprq2NCYcthY-4-_pY6VGeLeD9MPfBjkeXk_fQdZnn5sWTI9UieoDNK8wD7cJqaHAqMxX_MW22fAQArP-u5Z3RnmT0kjzKIr82kXLAMpFZ-j6rqu2lmxOYaWkwLjj0/s1600-h/taxi-driver+percyval+matji+31.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379936150452837394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3dL4riHZwUXiVuwprq2NCYcthY-4-_pY6VGeLeD9MPfBjkeXk_fQdZnn5sWTI9UieoDNK8wD7cJqaHAqMxX_MW22fAQArP-u5Z3RnmT0kjzKIr82kXLAMpFZ-j6rqu2lmxOYaWkwLjj0/s400/taxi-driver+percyval+matji+31.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 348px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 342px" /></a>A taxi driver who in February knocked down school girl Bernadine Kruger off her scooter and then drove over her, was today found guilty of murder. The 16-year old victim’s family says they hope the judgment acts as a deterrent to other drivers. Taxi-driver Percyval Matji, 31, found guilty of murder in the traffic-death of 16-year-old Afrikaans pupil Bernadine Kruger in <a href="http://www.radiopretoria.co.za/" target="_blank" title="This city was founded and built by the Voortrekker Boers...">Pretoria</a> on 23 February 2009. The court found that 31-year old Percyval Matji followed Kruger, in a loaded taxi, between lanes as she drove her scooter to school along a Pretoria road. He hooted continuously, drove at an excessive speed behind her in a road that was otherwise clear of traffic, and struck the schoolgirl's scooter right from behind. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWci9zlpY4LwoBerzBJPz6saabbv-MkshQzbuteDdecHJydwWKRQ8kDfmS12dZTHjYLVSGO0vm2QlTAiRmho6EGk8MnfgEYlegEWQXDgdEyJPGZKKY2PrDJW6xiKl3MNgI8Le7QPmEfA/s1600-h/bernadine-kruger.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379937688907251650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWci9zlpY4LwoBerzBJPz6saabbv-MkshQzbuteDdecHJydwWKRQ8kDfmS12dZTHjYLVSGO0vm2QlTAiRmho6EGk8MnfgEYlegEWQXDgdEyJPGZKKY2PrDJW6xiKl3MNgI8Le7QPmEfA/s400/bernadine-kruger.jpg" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 264px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 393px" /></a>Picture: Bernadine Kruger, who was killed by a taxi-driver while riding to school on her scooter on a near-empty eastbound dual-carriageway in Pretoria. He hit her scooter at such a high speed that Bernadine flew several metres through the air – and then he ran over her. It was heard that Matji never reduced speed, took no evasive action and placed himself in a position where he was unable to avoid a collision with the girl. Passing judgment which lasted several hours, Magistrate Edmund Patterson said Matji's speed and his laden vehicle, made the taxi a lethal weapon. A single yes resonated in the court room as he subsequently found Matji guilty of murder, with Patterson calling Matji an evasive witness and finding that his version of events could not reasonably possibly be true. Bernadine’s mother Elsabé Homa, says although the judgment offers her painful experience little relief, it’s better to know that the person responsible for her daughter’s death is now behind bars. Civil rights group AfriForum supported the family and monitored the case throughout. AfriForum’s Nantes Kelder believes that the judgment will have far reaching consequences, and will serve as a deterrent to the general public. Matji's bail was increased and he now has to report to the police daily. He will be sentenced next week. <a class="feedlink" href="http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20090901040044643C865902">Racial issues in scooter death case - lawyer</a>

Taxi driver knocked down school girl off scooter, then drove over her

Taxi driver guilty of killing schoolgirl A taxi driver who in February knocked down school girl Bernadine Kruger off her scooter and then dr...

9:07 AM

Minibus gang attacks Dutch student

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjR4d4WDLONAfCSX06JE_RgMRkwZMASVihJhwsnh-Dr0dlinBR6REIMAM1_B3F750NuFFV5f5jlRCRu6Cg8Fmr1gSgrBcwlUmqF6UPxwTtq2HzYeJGIVfMFMlcgkyEoSXorfQORMxL58/s1600-h/taxi-minibus.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379251683393350402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjR4d4WDLONAfCSX06JE_RgMRkwZMASVihJhwsnh-Dr0dlinBR6REIMAM1_B3F750NuFFV5f5jlRCRu6Cg8Fmr1gSgrBcwlUmqF6UPxwTtq2HzYeJGIVfMFMlcgkyEoSXorfQORMxL58/s400/taxi-minibus.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 360px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 270px" /></a>"I love this city, I love the people and I love the opportunities," says the Dutch student who was recently abducted, severely beaten and robbed by a taxi driver who still operates in the city despite being reported to the police. Adam Hijner, a 24-year-old student from The Netherlands who has lived in Cape Town since April 2007, said yesterday that his time in the country had been a "contrasting experience", with the "stunning scenery, great atmosphere and professional opportunity" being marred by "government inefficiency and a lack of general safety, social infrastructure and public amenities". Hijner, after months of trying to get a driver's licence appointment, has to rely on public transport. Last month, after boarding a minibus taxi in Sea Point Main Road, Hijner was taken against his will to an alley in Woodstock, where the taxi driver, his guard and a companion robbed him of his cellphone and R600. A "brutal" struggle ensued, with the taxi guard choking Hijner and a gun-wielding assailant repeatedly striking Hijner's face. "I was almost immediately out of breath. "After a few moments, I lost my strength and was pulled backwards towards the door." Hijner said he experienced a "moment of clarity", as he blocked off the pain and tried to escape. "The driver was punching me in the face and the third guy was going through my pockets. Eventually, I used my left leg to push myself out against a bench. I fell, losing my right shoe, still being held by the guy who was pulling my leg." Head bleeding, face swollen, he staggered to a nearby home as the taxi sped off. Hijner said he remembered the taxi's licence plate number and included it when laying a charge at the Cape Town Central police station. Last week, Hijner boarded another taxi in the same area. After recounting his ordeal, he said the taxi driver also knew of the gang. "I was shocked to hear the licence plate number, (the driver said) the same three guys had previously raped a girl, and two months ago they had assaulted and robbed another guy, (before) running him over." After more than a month, Hijner said he had seen the taxi and his attackers "at least six times", operating on the same route. After repeated SMS messages to the investigating officer, Hijner has yet to get a reply. Police could not comment by the time of going to press.

Minibus gang attacks Dutch student

"I love this city, I love the people and I love the opportunities," says the Dutch student who was recently abducted, severely bea...

3:35 PM

Confed Cup transport chaos

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCVpdjc8JTBhaFCFmpy52hqXJlemg1QY8eLFr79nDZZyKwN2rz0p1WZHyzMbR3nmgh1TEx9caSwCsB8xAiu_TRRP5jeWO3YkYigpPTTGG46I6KJF5y9k6hYihJ0uzf_Dvs6E1_8vl7KPs/s1600-h/metro-itransie2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349480260911424418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCVpdjc8JTBhaFCFmpy52hqXJlemg1QY8eLFr79nDZZyKwN2rz0p1WZHyzMbR3nmgh1TEx9caSwCsB8xAiu_TRRP5jeWO3YkYigpPTTGG46I6KJF5y9k6hYihJ0uzf_Dvs6E1_8vl7KPs/s400/metro-itransie2.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 250px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 350px" /></a>Park-and-ride services for the Confederations Cup have been dogged by problems all week, with hold-ups leaving fans late for games and then stuck after the matches. Some spectators have missed up to the first half of the matches, and on Thursday night those who used the facilities from Ellis Park were stuck in the cold for more than two hours after the game, waiting for a taxi to their cars. Chaos erupted at several different park-and-ride pick-up points at Ellis Park on Thursday, as many people were forced to find their own way to the pick-up points, which were not marked. On Wednesday, thousands of fans arrived at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg after the first half of the key Bafana Bafana versus New Zealand game. GauRide transports spectators from the park-and-ride sites, where iTransie shuttles take the people to the stadiums. The park-and-ride service is dealt with primarily by the City of Johannesburg's iTransie transport system, whereas the Gauteng provincial government provides the GauRide Transport Hub only in certain areas. On Thursday afternoon the Local Organising Committee said it was working with host cities to improve the park-and-ride system, but by Thursday night's game it had still not been sorted out. Lenasia resident Sam Patel, who watched the Egypt-Italy game at Ellis Park on Thursday, said the transport situation was "impossible". He had parked at Southgate Mall and was hoping to get a taxi straight to Ellis Park. "We got our tags and were in the taxi within five minutes, and I thought 'great'. But then, instead of going on the highway, they took us to Nasrec, where we were thrown out and had to get into a queue to get another taxi, which meant we were 20 minutes late for the game," he said. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjspUeKWf-Tsl_znTUAJPco3iTdGCkdcLq0qSOyLdDfA2SAX3V5AZIQsRYb_dpxvrTWA6ZereYs02jSpB31HE8NkTsupH-JAtvvDQ3r3zvlWPWxyFqXFVc_cjqC5xhZyZ5X9p3QMEkAE/s1600-h/taxioverview3.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349492462915594514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjspUeKWf-Tsl_znTUAJPco3iTdGCkdcLq0qSOyLdDfA2SAX3V5AZIQsRYb_dpxvrTWA6ZereYs02jSpB31HE8NkTsupH-JAtvvDQ3r3zvlWPWxyFqXFVc_cjqC5xhZyZ5X9p3QMEkAE/s400/taxioverview3.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimnnxjk0wJGazg6ZkuasidIUCIx9SZymWeP5jfUcBG70i14q_sp3VwclcHCyFzQZW3QXl2Lfm8NQvX1i9ri_7_8fWPRplkwJt7R4YjrCxypKrc4KU-43eJp3GH4uHfS8x_xHqmFROyUJ0/s1600-h/metro-bus-itransie1.jpg"></a>"On our way out it was even more disastrous. There was about a kilometre-long queue. We got out of the stadium at 10.30pm, and by midnight we could only see the area where people were boarding. There were still another thousand people in front of us. At that point I realised that I was not getting out of there before 3am, and I arranged another lift." While there were lots of taxis initially, by midnight there were none at the stadium. "The organisers don't know what is going to hit them," said an irate Patel. There were Egyptians and Germans in the queue with him. "They said they were going home and they were not coming back for the World Cup. They said they were going to advise people not to come here for the World Cup because of our bad transport problems. We are in for serious, serious problems." Mulbarton resident Harsha Budhia agrees with Patel. Budhia had parked at the Wits West Campus to see the opening ceremony and game but, because of problems with parking, missed the entire opening ceremony. One of the main problems, said Budhia, was that there was no proper queueing system. "There was no system of how to go. People just pushed to get to the front." Council spokesman Virgil James said: "The respective parties will be meeting soon for comprehensive feedback and proposals to remedy the situation. I trust that a statement will be released by Thursday." Sipho Mbele, the 2010 project support office director, said they had not received any complaints about the system.

Confed Cup transport chaos

Park-and-ride services for the Confederations Cup have been dogged by problems all week, with hold-ups leaving fans late for games and then ...

7:42 AM

Going nowhere rapidly

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyLitCv213J6f99-D-eZN0czvb0-l-9nH0-c6X1w-VDAaDnXsVcYxttL3cosKsqDrZDqnLq92mHu3xgUwt7m73ho7wEVyskioC4DmGtCgV5toVy4rgZEumEnVp2RWSLyEsEYCq5LXWi2Y/s1600-h/taxi%2520stadium.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345408687637472514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyLitCv213J6f99-D-eZN0czvb0-l-9nH0-c6X1w-VDAaDnXsVcYxttL3cosKsqDrZDqnLq92mHu3xgUwt7m73ho7wEVyskioC4DmGtCgV5toVy4rgZEumEnVp2RWSLyEsEYCq5LXWi2Y/s400/taxi%2520stadium.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px" /></a>Construction delays, coupled with South Africa's mafia-like minibus taxi operators, have derailed Johannesburg's new bus system, leaving the fleet in their bays during FIFA's showcase Confed Cup. The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is meant to unchoke Johannesburg's streets, where private cars rule amid monstrous congestion due to a lack of public transport. But the minibus taxi industry — which transports millions of South Africans daily — has warned of bloodshed if it is sidelined by the project. "The BRT will not operate during the Confederations Cup due to the some delays in the infrastructure completion as well as due to the lack of clarity in terms of the negotiations between the government and taxi industry," said Darko Skrbinsek, technical adviser for Johannesburg's BRT committee. "The intention is, however, to start the operations in September this year." Essential to 2010 The BRT is seen as essential to the 2010 World Cup when 450 000 visitors are expected in South Africa, with Johannesburg hosting both the opening and final matches. But taxi associations say the multi-billion rand project will lead to job losses. The industry flexed its muscle in March by bringing Johannesburg to a standstill in a violent protest that saw police open fire with rubber bullets after roads were barricaded and buses and motorists stoned. Bowing to pressure, President Jacob Zuma backed taxi calls for BRT to be put on hold days before being elected head of state the next month. "It will be unfair competition," Ralph Jones, spokesperson for the United Taxi Association Forum (UTAF), told AFP. Affected taxi drivers were expected to sell their minibuses or be redeployed to unaffected routes, UTAF said in a statement. "The last option will create taxi wars and bloodshed as each taxi route has already enough taxis on the routes," it said, a referral to periodic shootings over competition for passengers and lucrative routes. The BRT aims to revolutionise public transport with dedicated bus lanes connecting Johannesburg's main nodes. The government has denied any loss of income for taxi operators, saying 50 percent of taxi routes will be unaffected and that the new system will create jobs for drivers, mechanics and security agents. But spokesperson for the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO), Philip Taaibosch said buses will run along routes that have been operated by taxis for more than 40 years. "The former government of apartheid never planned transport around the townships. We had to provide Africans with transport," he said. Arising out of the apartheid state's loosening of transport controls, the unregulated minibus taxi industry transformed into a cut-throat, powerful sector beset with taxi wars. Today it is plagued by abysmal safety records with unroadworthy vehicles and unsafe driving and often violent flare-ups. Economist Frank Beeton said the industry, which has also voiced unhappiness at government's efforts at regulation, opposes the BRT because they want to avoid regulations. "The taxi industry likes to work in a very informal way, without any prescription in terms in what they do. They don't want to be formalised," he said. "It's a mafia." "We need an agreement from the taxi organisations and the government on the role they will play in the formal transport system. Before that, there will be continuous problems." In his first state of the nation address earlier this month, Zuma said the taxi industry will meet transport leaders on June 11 to negotiate a settlement. "We are confident that unresolved issues will be dealt with," he said.

Going nowhere rapidly

Construction delays, coupled with South Africa's mafia-like minibus taxi operators, have derailed Johannesburg's new bus system, lea...

12:06 PM

Chilling threats in wake of this week’s Confed Cup.

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR0QYiFbCnEUvxjndYus5mWnqaW5aAwF03-4R2O3bd6tZIZR_6Gb-cy8fVMbvIvF6k4HmId9iQnHJLqZv6bc1AUaAh3CJ8i4qUU2coU5-IjXqMPO1LTS8aOBh3m7rlzH0aU6LugXrqang/s1600-h/transport_black_taxi_cape_town.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344563263995795026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR0QYiFbCnEUvxjndYus5mWnqaW5aAwF03-4R2O3bd6tZIZR_6Gb-cy8fVMbvIvF6k4HmId9iQnHJLqZv6bc1AUaAh3CJ8i4qUU2coU5-IjXqMPO1LTS8aOBh3m7rlzH0aU6LugXrqang/s400/transport_black_taxi_cape_town.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 258px" /></a>'We'll turn Cape town into another Baghdad' Radical elements in the taxi industry have threatened to "kill" if their demands to own and run the new bus rapid transit (BRT) system in its entirety are not met. Speaking before Thursday's meeting between Transport Minister S'bu Ndebele and the government-recognised South African National Taxi Council about the urban bus system, the National Taxi Alliance (NTA) says it is prepared to die for its demands, "and we will kill anyone who gets in our way". "We will turn Cape Town into another Baghdad. We know how and we have the means to do it," Mvuyisi Mente, the spokesperson for the Western Cape branch of the NTA, told Weekend Argus last week. He added that taxi strikes would only form a fraction of the disturbances and demonstrations they were prepared to roll out in protest. "I have thousands of soldiers in my ranks who are prepared to die for this. We are serious about this. You know it and we know it." Their chilling threats came hot on the heels of President Jacob Zuma's State of the Nation address on Wednesday when he said that the stalled BRT project was now back on the government's agenda and would recommence with this week's meeting which is expected to pave the way for broader negotiations between the Department of Transport and the taxi industry over the coming months. The BRT project, which is scheduled to commence in Joburg in September before extending to Cape Town, will eventually be rolled out in other cities around the country, and will replace minibus taxis with buses that will operate on dedicated lanes to alleviate traffic and congestion in urban South Africa. Though the government's intention is to allow the owners of the taxi industry to part-own and operate certain sections of the proposed system, some taxi owners say they will settle for nothing short of 100 percent ownership and operation. "Why should we take 50 percent or 60 percent ownership, or whatever they are offering us, when we already have 100 percent?" asked NTA national secretary Alpheus Mlalazi. However, other sections of the industry have had the foresight to see that growing congestion on the city's roads compounded by the expected peak in the global oil supply in coming years will eventually force an end to the 16-seater commuter taxis anyway and they have begun to co-operate with the government on the BRT. How Ndebele will bring the various factions of the taxi industry on board remains to be seen. Yet just how serious the more radical elements of the industry are about their threats is something he will not want to test.

Chilling threats in wake of this week’s Confed Cup.

'We'll turn Cape town into another Baghdad' Radical elements in the taxi industry have threatened to "kill" if their d...

4:53 AM

More threats! Black taxi's threaten to 'bring Cape Town down'

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzPNoC7MaFtGQ8auuFvnHtr8gb7mnwtf1wni6AuuNDs17lecy2VzgwedKdqKt3hSZXxgSPpkOAv7FlLbb8QEIe0aYyiJIpeB2JRMC-m7m-7BlpiB3tzjZJ-nknLEHEsf0yDCzd-AxsNml/s1600-h/transport-black-eltaxi.gif"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337183843828025314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzPNoC7MaFtGQ8auuFvnHtr8gb7mnwtf1wni6AuuNDs17lecy2VzgwedKdqKt3hSZXxgSPpkOAv7FlLbb8QEIe0aYyiJIpeB2JRMC-m7m-7BlpiB3tzjZJ-nknLEHEsf0yDCzd-AxsNml/s400/transport-black-eltaxi.gif" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 360px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 246px" /></a>The Western Cape branch of the National Taxi Alliance has threatened to cause chaos in Cape Town if the city forges ahead with its planned Bus Rapid Transit system. Spokesperson, Mvuyisi Mente, has rubbished claims that the taxi industry is on board with regards to the project's implementation. “If they continue with the implementation - those who are against the implementation of BRT will revolt against the BRT. We will not keep on and fold our arms. We will bring Cape Town down.” Mente however says they are open to talks with city mayor, Dan Plato.Mante says “If Mr Plato decides, he must call in the taxi industry - Western Cape and Santaco. We have no problem, so that we can talk...” Meanwhile, members of taxi associations that gathered at the Jabulani amphitheatre in Soweto on Wednesday, have threatened to take strong action if President Jacob Zuma does not get back to them on the promises he made during their meeting before the elections.

More threats! Black taxi's threaten to 'bring Cape Town down'

The Western Cape branch of the National Taxi Alliance has threatened to cause chaos in Cape Town if the city forges ahead with its planned B...

4:47 AM

Black taxis in South Africa 'take over' the pavements

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSlrO4DbvZDNbzppk1ad0UqugBHuLq48aFV66svX-NaHhmbyuBSRHZbHZ7YlgHYDePVsE8c_Bw6TK3auHsa-flOP2HZV9DHTG1cqhnWdzQ0tcAmVo6rH4W_9LchJ73OxiI3zTqHPPtyvtz/s1600-h/black-taxis.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321216715860024226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSlrO4DbvZDNbzppk1ad0UqugBHuLq48aFV66svX-NaHhmbyuBSRHZbHZ7YlgHYDePVsE8c_Bw6TK3auHsa-flOP2HZV9DHTG1cqhnWdzQ0tcAmVo6rH4W_9LchJ73OxiI3zTqHPPtyvtz/s400/black-taxis.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 250px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 172px" /></a>Taxis which routinely outrage other traffic by driving in the left emergency lane have gone a step further: they've started beating congestion by driving on the pavement. In the past three weeks 25 fines have been issued to taxi drivers for driving on or over the painted island or on the pavement. The hot spot this time was in Albert Road, Woodstock, where taxis regularly use the pavement as a third lane in peak-hour traffic. City traffic spokesperson Merle Lourens said the authority had received several complaints about eight months ago and issued seven fines of R300 each. When the Weekend Argus sent a query to the traffic department about taxis using the pavement as a third lane, Lourens said they had re-opened the complaint case and issued 25 fines for that area alone. She said they had sent law enforcement teams to check any complaints from new areas. Other hot spots around the city are Hospital Bend at the M3 and N2 junction where taxis drive in the emergency lane to beat a long line of traffic waiting to get on to Settler's Way leaving the city. Another problem spot is the junction carrying incoming traffic from the M5 on to the N2, where cars and taxis drive up to the junction and then over a painted island and cut in front of other cars. Lourens said traffic officers were deployed at all of the spots, but were not there every day as they had many complaints to tend to.

Black taxis in South Africa 'take over' the pavements

Taxis which routinely outrage other traffic by driving in the left emergency lane have gone a step further: they've started beating cong...

11:29 PM

South Africa P.I.G.