Gauteng premier prepared to meet with taxi operators

Gauteng Premier David Makhura is willing to discuss any matter with the taxi industry provided proper channels are followed‚ his office said on Tuesday.

“The office of the MEC [Ismail Vadi] has informed us that there is a meeting that is scheduled before the end of this week with the taxi operators. The premier is prepared to meet with the taxi association if they follow proper channels. The office of the MEC will advise the Premier on this matter‚” said Makhura’s spokesperson Phumla Sekhonyane.

On Monday‚ Vadi officially started a process which allows Uber partner drivers to obtain operating licences just like the meter taxi operators. This upset the cab drivers and they stormed into the building on Diagonal Street in the city centre and attacked the MEC for his decision.

Police were called to the scene and the drivers refused to leave the building demanding to speak to Makhura.

After long hours of deliberations among themselves‚ the drivers dispersed saying the matter would be brought to Makhura’s attention as they had no confidence in Vadi.

At the heart of the contention is the growth of the Uber partner-driver service in the province which cab drivers argue is “taking their bread”.

There are over 4‚000 Uber driver-partners in the country and 2‚500 of them are in Gauteng. The Western Cape has already started legalising the Uber model of transport.