TimesLIVE reports that the SA National Taxi Council (Santaco) has denied claims that it allegedly instructed South Africans not to use private vehicles or carry their families and has labelled the reports false and misleading.

This after the circulation of posts, including pictures and videos, alleging that taxi drivers were stopping and harassing motorists on the roads. The taxi operators were allegedly restricting private car operators from carrying their family members. In some provinces, parents and teachers were also allegedly being restricted from transporting their children to school. “We wish to place it on record that Santaco has never issued such a communication and has never imposed any mode of transport on the public. Any individual making such claims is not, and has never been, speaking on behalf of the council,” said Santaco spokesperson Mmatshikhidi Rebecca Phala.

She said the council strongly condemned such acts in the strongest terms. “Like all other paid-for transport services, taxi operations are voluntary and remain a choice available to commuters … We encourage members of the public to report any incidents of harassment or unlawful enforcement directly to law enforcement agencies,” Phala stated. Santaco KZN also denied the claims. Last Wednesday, an e-hailing driver died after being attacked by men who shot him and set him alight inside his car at Maponya Mall.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Shonisani Tshikalange at TimesLIVE

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