Hon Chairperson, violence in the taxi industry has been a problem for some time now. We often read or hear about taxi bosses being murdered, and this trend seems to be continuing with no end in sight.
In Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal in particular there seems to be numerous assassinations or assassination attempts on the lives of taxi owners, many of whom are in positions of leadership. In one of the most recent incidents, Bhekokwakhe Shezi, who was the vice-chairman of the MNR Taxi Association in Umlazi, was gunned down at his home in Montclair. His young daughter had to scream for help while he lay bleeding in the driveway.
The taxi industry is a crucial part of our transport system as millions of South Africans make use of this mode of transport daily. We cannot allow these assassinations to continue.
The IFP believes that the SA Police Service must set up a unit which is dedicated to rooting out violence in this industry. Competition must be free and fair without any intimidation or violence. We must clean up this industry ...
... kuphele izinkabi Sihlalo [Ihlombe.]. Abantu abahlalela ukukhokhelwa ukuyobulala abanye abantu abanikwa igama esingalazi ukuthi laqhamukaphi elithi izinkabi. [... and do away with hitmen, Chairperson [Applause.]. People who get paid for killing other people have been given the name izinkabi and we do not know its origin.]