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Taxis in SA: 'Crossing the street has become life threatening' - reader

Cape Town - Earlier in June, Wheels24 reported that a minibus taxi has been impounded after a run-in with the City of Cape Town’s Traffic Services. The driver was arrested for cramming 32 passengers into his vehicle. 
 
To make matters worse, the driver was unlicensed and operating in contravention of his operating licence, which resulted in the vehicle being impounded and his arrest.

WATCH: 32 passengers crammed into a Cape Town mini-bus taxi

Wheels24 reader Bertus Malan shares his frustrations about taxis in South Africa:


Malan says: "I live in Sea Point, Regent Road, close to the Point shopping centre. On a daily basis I have to live with the noise of taxis hooting as they drive down the road and other motors hooting at taxis that are driving recklessly or stopping illegally. This starts around 6am daily and continues until late night.

"I'm even more concerned about the danger that these taxis are posing to many motorists especially to pedestrians in this area. Sea Point is known for the high number of apartments with many tourists and especially elderly citizens that walk in this area.

"Crossing the street has become a life-threatening activity where many taxis just drive around the stationery vehicles, over the red light (which is a green pedestrian light), making a U-turn in front of oncoming traffic and stopping illegally in front of the shopping centre where oncoming traffic cannot pass.

"I'm attaching a video (below) of one of these type of incidents - this was one of the less dangerous ones. While standing outside for about 5 minutes this happened twice.


Another reader, Kobus Oosthuizen sent us this video he captured. He says: "I filmed a taxi going through the red lights on Saturday. It could have ended quite badly for the biker. Luckily no one got hurt."

WATCH: Minibus taxi runs red light in Houghton, Johannesburg:

Wheels24 reader Cheraldene Vanacore also shares her concerns: "I live in KuilsRiver area. The taxi drivers stop in the middle of the road collecting customers any time of the day, specially in the mornings blocking the roads. If you as I driver say anything then they want to get violent. They have no respect and if they see you are a woman then they want to take advantage. Road blocks should be held everyday to avoid such violence. We all want to do the right thing obeying the rules. I have taken several screen shots of numbers plates of taxi drivers but I won't send this.

"Our lives as legal drivers are not even safe. We need to keep our mouths quiet otherwise they will point a gun or a knife at you."

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