Gauteng Premier, Mr David Makhura, the Executive Mayor of Tshwane, Cllr Kgosientso Ramokgopa, and senior government officials held a community meeting in Mamelodi with residents to restore order and discuss the ongoing problem relating to the transport problems and the violence in the area.
Premier Makhura said government would deploy enough police officials to ensure that commuters who want to use the new AutoPax buses were safe. He said commuters have a right to choose the mode of transport they want.
The Premier reiterated that the government would never negotiate with those using violence. “The government is willing to negotiate with taxi operators only if they leave their guns behind,” he said.
City of Tshwane News Services reported that although the meeting was peaceful, representatives of taxi associations in Mamelodi were not impressed with the Premier’s statement. They claimed he was intimidating them with threats of violence. Prasa CEO, Mr Lucky Montana, indicated that they were not happy with perpetrators of violence who damaged their resources, but they would keep on delivering quality services through Autopax buses. Cllr Ramokgopa said they were willing to work with taxi operators to find a solution.