Canaan Mdletshe

Canaan Mdletshe

KwaZulu-Natal Transport Alliance committee members will work in full force with traffic officers during the festive season to ensure that taxi operators adhere to road rules.

Most road carnages happen during the festive season in the country and minibus taxis contribute to the high number of road deaths.

Transport Alliance chairman Eugene Hadebe said they wanted an accident-free festive season.

Hadebe said to ensure that this was not only a wish, but a reality, committee members would go flat out checking on the roadworthiness of the taxis and other vehicles carrying passengers.

"We want to change the wrong perception people have about us taxi operators. We want to prove that we are not violent and uncaring as many perceive us to be.

"Committee members will work with traffic officers to ensure that all vehicles used during the festive season were up to scratch."

Hadebe said last year, he personally turned back to Durban station a taxi full of passengers because of bad tyres and windows that could not open.

"People were sweating inside because the windows could not open and I turned it back to the rank where it was parked.

"Another taxi had to transport the people to their destination. We will do the same this year but we will be more visible than last year," said Hadebe.

Passenger Wandile Zulu from Ulundi hailed the initiative.

"I appreciate the initiative and can bet it will work because some taxi operators only look for profit and not the wellbeing of passengers."