By Sonica Naudé-Steyn

Members of the Kokstad Meter Taxi Association have aired their grievances due to ongoing challenges with illegal meter taxis operating in the Kokstad area.
According to Ayanda Phungula of the association, there are a number of vehicles operating as meter taxis in Kokstad which do not have the correct permits or authorization and who are not members of the association. He says unlike members of the association, these illegal operators do not abide by strict pricing regulations, and both drivers and vehicles are not vetted in terms of roadworthiness, licenses and PDP permits.
“We have received many complaints from customers about pricing and behaviour of the drivers, while some customers have even had belongings going missing. We as an association cannot help because these drivers are not part of the association and are operating illegally,” explains Ayanda.
According to Ayanda, the Greater Kokstad Municipality only allows a certain number of meter taxis to operate within the town and the association is responsible for ensuring that the permitted vehicles are roadworthy and that their authorized drivers have valid licenses and PDP’s and follow the correct pricing. He says legal operators will display two discs on their windscreens as well as a sticker with the emblem of the Meter Taxi Association. The vehicles also have number plates with black lettering and have reserved parking along Hope Street near the Shoprite centre. He claims that the illegal meter taxis operate from within the taxi rank.
“Initially we were promised assistance with the issue from the traffic department and the police, but nothing has been done and things are escalating. I nearly lost my life recently when a confrontation with an illegal operator turned violent and I was stabbed with a knife,” says Ayanda.
Greater Kokstad Municipality spokesperson, Zolani Siqwayi, said that the Municipality is ‘gearing towards a “zero-tolerance” approach’ to illegal meter taxi and minibus operations.
“The statement that the municipality is not assisting meter taxi operators is far from the truth. As the municipality we are doing all in our power to assist operators and associations to register and legalise their operations. Though our Chief Traffic Officer and law enforcement division, we have constant stakeholder engagements with meter taxi operators to ensure the safety of commuters and we ensure aggressive law enforcement, vehicle impoundments, and increased collaboration with traffic authorities to combat rising lawlessness and ensure commuter safety. However, the impounding of illegal or unregistered meter taxis is the compliance of KZN Tshayela and we often invite them for routine checking of meter taxi operations,” said Siqwayi.