More than 100 e-hailing drivers in Mthatha say taxi operators are extorting money from them by beating them, threatening them with firearms or “confiscating” their vehicles and demanding R2,000 for their return.
They accuse the police of leaving them at the mercy of the taxi operators, claiming that even formally opened cases are ignored by police members who tell them to pay the money.
On Thursday, scores of desperate e-hailing services operators, under the banner of the Mthatha E-hailing Organisation, camped outside Mthatha’s Madeira police station to voice their frustration, culminating in their handing over a memorandum of grievances to the police.
The organisation’s spokesperson, Nathi Dayimani, told the Dispatch: “We would like to call it extortion.
“We are a group of young people from Mthatha and since there is a high rate of unemployment, we sought to make an income by joining the e-hailing services.
“There was a quarrel with the taxi industry. They are confiscating our cars and they demand R2,000.
“Whenever we report this to the police, they tell us we must just pay whatever these people are demanding.”
Dayimani said two vehicles belonging to the e-hailing organisation’s members were confiscated on Tuesday and had still not been returned by Thursday.
“Sometimes they chase us. Recently one guy was beaten and kicked until his eye socket was broken and he had to receive medical attention in the hospital.
“His case never went anywhere.”
He accused the new Border Alliance Taxi Association (Bata) leadership in Mthatha of being behind the violence affecting their members.
When they started out as e-hailing operators, they were told they needed to affiliate to an organisation because there could not be three associations running the show in Mthatha.
They then affiliated with the Uncedo Service Taxi Association.
“We approached Bata and they chased us away, but Uncedo welcomed us.
“All we want is just to work and provide for our families.
“There are lawyers, nurses who cannot get jobs and so this is the only way we can provide for our families.
“[Bata allegedly] demand R2,000. Where is it going to come from because our people make only between R400 and R500 a day?”
E-hailing operator Mthobeli Biyela, a married father of three with a BCom accounting degree, said his car was forcefully taken after he was accosted by a taxi operator who blocked his way on Sunday while he was driving on Nelson Mandela Drive near the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital.
Other taxi operators joined in when he tried to flee. They banged on the car and threatened to break its windows if he did not open the doors.
Biyela, who joined the e-hailing business in 2021, got his car back only on Monday evening.
“I have a family, and I need money for rent, school fees and ensuring my family has enough food.”
Sandile Cele, an e-hailing driver for two years, said he had paid R1,500 on five separate occasions this year to retrieve his car, the last time on August 16.
“I was driving, and they followed me, and I went to the medical school at Nelson Mandela Academic school in Fort Gale and they demanded my car.
“I went inside and when I came out later, two of my tyres had been slashed.
“I went to open a case and got a case number but that was the last time I heard anything from the police.”
OR Tambo district mayor Mesuli Ngqondwana urged the e-hailing drivers to report incidents, saying extortion came in many forms.
“Ever since the arrival [in Mthatha] of the minister [Senzo Mchunu], there’s been a huge difference, there’s been a very strong visibility of police personnel in our area.
“But ... it is true that our people live in fear as a result of these extortionists because there are people who masquerade as kings in the space.
“People must not lose hope and start believing that for them to be safe, they must respond to these extortionists.”
Mthatha E-hailing Organisation chair Ayanda Nongawuza said it had 110 active members.
“We just do not get help from the police. We do not even know whether they support what is happening to us.”
Mthatha’s Uncedo chair, Mnikelo Mbopha, confirmed the e-hailing drivers were affiliated to the association, and said his members faced a similar situation from Bata members.
Their taxis were constantly stopped and drivers allegedly told not to operate on some routes by drivers from the rival association.
“We are trying to fight this, but our government does not care. We do not know what the police are doing exactly.
“Bata thinks they are the only association in this town. They think they run this town.”
But Bata president Songezo Mpanda blamed transport and community safety MEC Xolile Nqatha, saying during the signing of the peace accord between the two associations earlier this year, it had asked him to speak to Uncedo about the e-hailing services.
“No taxi association operates e-hailing services as far as we know.
“We do not know why now they are speaking about us instead of asking the MEC why this matter has not been resolved.”
Nqatha acknowledged that the department had been slow in attending to the problem but stressed “that cannot be a reason [for the taxi operators] to take the law into their own hands”.
He added: “I am still committed to fast-track this matter. However, any act of violence is condemned.”
King Sabata Dalindyebo municipality mayor Nyaniso Nelani said the conflict between the taxi association and its counterparts in the e-hailing services business had been going on for too long and he had directed the municipality’s public safety unit to address the issue.
Provincial police spokesperson Warrant Officer Majola Nkohli confirmed six cases had been opened this month at the Madeira police station after complaints were filed by e-hailing operators.
“The generic complaint was that victims were coerced to pay certain amounts by people who are said to be members of a certain taxi association.
“The investigation into these cases had since been taken over by a provincial task team.
“At this stage, there are no arrests and the investigation is continuing.”
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