SA can "kiss the 2010 Fifa World Cup goodbye" if it does not deal with the taxis

[Frankie]

It's going to be fun to see how the ANC deal with these unruly comrades.


'Lawless thugs in suits' hold SA to ransom

South Africa can "kiss the 2010 Fifa World Cup goodbye" if it does not deal decisively with the minibus taxi industry.

This is the view of an expert in the taxi conflict, who asked not to be named because of death threats in the past. He questioned why the government was allowing the industry to hold the entire country to ransom.

"It's time to take the taxi industry and turn it on its head and it's got to be done forcefully."

 

[supersunbird]

The taxi industry is NOT public transport...

 

[BBSA]

It's going to be fun to see how the ANC deal with these unruly comrades.

ANC is unruly thugs themselves...

I would not be surprised if they benefit from the taxi industry.

 

[Syndyre]

The taxi industry is NOT public transport...

Exactly, they're acting like criminals and be treated as such. If they block roads, attack people etc. then bring in the riot police and clear the roads with as much force as necessary.

 

[capetownguy]

The taxi industry against FIFA. I wonder who will win. A corrupt unruly organization or the world's largest and most influential sports federation who have prepared for things 100 times more severe than taxi riots for decades.

I remember a transport strike the day before the FIFA World Cup in France in 1998.

 

[Vrotappel]

The taxi industry against FIFA. I wonder who will win. A corrupt unruly organization or the world's largest and most influential sports federation who have prepared for things 100 times more severe than taxi riots for decades.

I remember a transport strike the day before the FIFA World Cup in France in 1998.

My money is on the taxi industry - no law applies to them.

But if the ANC promises them to waive all their fines and ignore their blatant disregard for law, perhaps they will behave for a short period in 2010. After that it's business as usual in this african shytehole.

 

[ToxicBunny]

I somehow think the taxi industry will come off second best in this one.

But as for this experts view... its just that, a view and not the gospel truth...the WC will be happening here, and the taxi industry will either be a part of it... or be shut out of it.. depending on how they behave, they are not crucial to the Transport plans for the WC i don't think.

 

[DeadCore]

Exactly, they're acting like criminals and be treated as such. If they block roads, attack people etc. then bring in the riot police and clear the roads with as much force as necessary.

does SA even have a riot police?

 

[lion_fish]

does SA even have a riot police?

SA's police force is a "riot" but thats more in the comical sense...

 

[.Froot.]

does SA even have a riot police?

Yip...

 

[BeVonk!]

Money - loads of it - will keep the Taxi industry quiet during the event. The Taxi industry is about money and they will cause trouble right until the event to push the "keep quiet" payment up as high as it can go ... and guess what ... those who will approve and pay out these "keep quiet" payments may well be major players in the industry themselves (behind the scenes). If so it will be in their own interest to fuel the fire and then come with the "solution".

The taxi industry will never be sorted out. It's too loaded ... just like a taxi.

 

[gpe]

The SAPS has riot squads (middle risk) and even a pop (point-of-presence) high risk unit. Nevertheless we all know how the Taxi Unions operate -- pretty much like most syndicates!

Will be interesting to see how this is dealt with. Next we'll probably hear of the Nursing industry threatening to strike and not provide hospital care to people during the World Cup. Seems everyone is trying to cash in. Where does it end? Train drivers? Airport staff? etc etc etc

 

[chrisonderstall]

SA Taxi indusry intergal to 2010 plans?

The SA Taxi industry can hardly be considered as intergral to our transport plans. Imagine German tourists rying to catch a taxi to Soccer City?

Read more about the progress to the world's biggest sporting event, the 2010 World Cup, at www.shine2010.co.za

 

[BigAl-sa]

Things like this don't help:

Constable Tsietsie Lamola said the crash involved a minibus and a car.

Three occupants of the minibus assaulted the driver of the car, who'd been on his own.

He died at the scene.

http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2442024,00.html

Had my own run in with taxis on Church St East outside Silverton last Thurs. They are a law unto themselves, and unfortunately, most black non-taxi-drivers seemed to behave in exactly the same way...

 

[marine1]

Ban the Taxis, simple as that. They are a bunch of animals.

 

[noxibox]

They also appear to be morons. They make a huge fuss about the proposed public transport system when they have more than once been told how it will work, and that it will not have a negative impact on them.

I support a crackdown.

 

[bwana]

How hard it it to start enforcing road worthiness and impounding vehicles of all types that seriously dont make the grade?

 

[ToxicBunny]

bwana : In this country unfortunately very hard....

Because to enforce this the cops have to stop taking bribes, and also not be afraid of having death threats made against them...which fairly often from what I gather are actually carried out.

 

[bwana]

bwana : In this country unfortunately very hard....

Because to enforce this the cops have to stop taking bribes, and also not be afraid of having death threats made against them...which fairly often from what I gather are actually carried out.

Heavily armed road blocks with plenty of flat beds and the media cameras rolling to keep them honest.

They need to make a visible effort so that covers the bases.

Some vehicles might never be road worthy again so crush them, sell the scrap and give the owner the proceeds (assuming they cover any outstanding fines).

 

[ToxicBunny]

I tend to agree with you, but the cops would never attempt something like that... it would just cause too much chaos to their back pockets

My guess is 1 in probably 5 taxi's is unable of ever being roadworthy again, and 1 in 3 is more than likely not roadworthy at the moment...