Taxi owners bought converted panel vans thinking they were original Toyota Quantums

Taxi owners bought panel vans thinking that they were buying original Toyota Quantum vehicles.

This emerged at the public hearings conducted by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela at her offices in Hillcrest‚ Pretoria.

Also read: WANTED: Taxi driver of the year

Madonsela is conducting investigations into allegations that some vehicle dealerships illegally converted panel vans and sold them as taxis. These vehicles‚ with compromised safety standards‚ can lead to passengers sustaining serious injuries in slightest accidents.

National Taxi Council general secretary Alpheus Mlalazi said taxi operators were not told that the vehicles had been converted when sold to them. He said they suffered financial losses when the taxis were removed from the road as they did not meet fitness standards.

Owners could not pay their instalments since the vehicles were not making money because they were stopped from operating.

TMG Digital/Sowetan