14 Jun 2018

Public transport operators in Tswapong North have decried piracy, which they said is on the rise in their area and has crippled their businesses.

In an interview recently, public transport operators allege conspiracy and neglect by law enforcers, which they claimed contributed to private car owners turning their business into a survival of the fittest contest as they got to scramble for customers.

They said that this was discouraging, given that they did things by the book and acquired permits to run their businesses.

They said their efforts did not bear fruit due to certain individuals who have turned their business ventures into a nightmare.

One of the only two registered taxi operators in Maunatlala, Mr Lesoletsile Tshoganetso lamented that the closure of the BCL mine had seen the emergence of Honda Fit cars, which he alleges have taken over their businesses. He added that the illegal operators charge lower prices than those stipulated under the transport regulations and in most cases, give out their contact details to potential customers and offer cab services.

Mr Tshoganetso said the taxi business used to be flourishing back in the day when people used to be law abiding, adding that the pirating cars did not even carry the blue number plates certifying them as taxis yet people trusted them.

 One of Puleng Investments’ bus drivers, whose fleet plies the Seolwane to Palapye via Mosweu, Mokokwana and Maunatlala route, Mr Ezakhiel Makhiwa said the company had two buses; using the same route at different time intervals, but none of them was making profit.

Dijeng Tours bus operators, which operate from Mosweu/Mokokwana to Selibe Phikwe also expressed concern at the rate at which the public had turned to private transport, saying that they did not take the message preached by officials to always use public transport to heart.In response to the allegations, Assistant Superintendent Mopedi Moipolai of Maunatlala Police Station, said his office was working round the clock to address the pirating situation. ENDS