LIMPOPO MEC for roads and transport Pinkie Kekana yesterday hailed as "a great new year gift" the decision by the Tzaneen Pusela Taxi Association to end a decade-long fights over routes.

Kekana met the association's transitional executive committee (TEC) yesterday.

The conflict in the association had led to incidents of violence in the past.

The conflict involved the Tzaneen to Pretoria and Tzaneen to Johannesburg routes.

Speaking after the meeting Kekana described the watershed peace agreement as "a great new year gift".

She also praised members of the associations for agreeing to elect an inclusive interim committee to lead the reconciliation between the two splinter groups.

The Pusela Taxi Association had for more than 10 years experienced internal strife that claimed many taxi owners and drivers' lives.

Some members of the association were allegedly prevented from operating on the long-distance routes.

There was also conflict between members of the association and bus operators on the routes.

Last month Kekana dispatched a three-member task team to resolve the matter.

She also deployed a joint operations team that launched a law enforcement operation at the Tzaneen taxi rank on December 3.

TEC chairperson Masaka Mokgathi confirmed yesterday that Kekana's intervention was useful and that they were determined to work together "in peace and harmony".