Law Enforcement Has Capacity To End The Ongoing Taxi Warfare

A crime expert says law enforcement in this country has enough capacity and resources to end the long, ongoing taxi warfare between taxi associations in Gauteng. Speaking to SABC News , Andy Mashaile, says the conflict of interest arises when some police have businesses in the taxi industry, making it difficult and complicated to solve such cases.

In the past four months, close to 60 people have died in taxi-related incidents in the province. The government, which has also expressed concern, says it will introduce a new system to deal with the issue of operating licenses.

Its been a bloody year for the taxi industry in Gauteng, with the shooting of taxi operators almost every other week.

Mashaile says some police who are invested in the taxi industry as shareholders in the business are creating more challenges when it comes to investigations and solving problems. He says law enforcers and those in the justice system must desist from doing business in this industry.

"It is alleged that there are members of the South African Police Service that own taxis. When you talk about that unit that has been established to deal with this violence, that violence might have some challenges from those who are alleged to be in the same industry, making it difficult when it comes to investigations of crimes and criminality within the force," says Mashaile.