Priests to intervene in Mall of Africa taxi war

Gauteng MEC of Transport Ismail Vadi has turned to priests in his bid to bring an end to the taxi war at the Mall of Africa in Midrand.

“Government has appointed four senior religious leaders from the South African Council of Churches in an effort to broker an agreement between the Alexandra Taxi Association and ARMSTA in an effort to prevent further violence‚” said Vadi in a statement.

Two people believed to be taxi drivers were shot dead on Sunday at a taxi rank near the mall along the Lone Creek Crescent.

Police held a meeting with mall management to deal with the issue of security in the shopping centre’s precinct. This was the second shooting to take place outside the mall. In May‚ three people were wounded during a violent confrontation between taxi associations over a route dispute.

ATA and the Alexandra‚ Randburg‚ Midrand and Sandton (Armsta) are believed to be fighting over the route.

TMG Digital earlier sent questions to Vadi’s office asking which association had the rightful operating licence to use the route but this question was not answered.

Instead‚ Vadi said: “We urge the interested parties to continue with efforts to resolve disputes peacefully. Government will not be deterred by dark and hidden forces using violence to derail efforts aimed at the restoration of peace and good relationships between the two associations.”

 Meanwhile‚ Vadi commended the South African National Taxi Council in Gauteng for suspending its strike action‚ which was set to take place on Monday.