15 Sep 2022

Tonota MP, Mr Pono Moatlhodi, has called on the taxi industry to strive for a good reputation.

Launching Tonota Taxi Association on Wednesday, Mr Moatlhodi appealed to taxi operators to guard against love affairs with pupils to protect the industry image.

Mr Moatlhodi, who is also Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, said in 2021, a female pupil was killed by a taxi driver in Tonota over love disputes.

“Taxis provide transport, but not through sexual favours,” he told members of the association.

The Tonota legislator, however, said taxi industry’s contribution to the economic development of this country was noteworthy and as such it should be treated with the dignity and respect it deserved.

Mr Moatlhodi stated that apart from contributing to the economy, the industry also played a pivotal role in uplifting the lives of those who depended on it as a business.

He said those who stained the good name of the industry should be brought to book before the situation got worse.

Mr Moatlhodi explained that the formation of associations was mainly aimed to ensure the smooth running of their transport business, adding the secret was to uphold ethics.

He advised members of the association to be whistle blowers in monitoring piracy and social ills in the industry explaining that taxi operators offered door to door transport services for customers looking for a relaxed and stress-free trip.

 “The regulations require that you drop customers at their doorstep to give them value for their money,” he said.

In his welcome remarks, chairperson of Tonota Taxi Association, Mr Joseph Moatlhodi, informed the gathering that the formation of the association in Tonota was to take stock of themselves as taxi operators.

He said because the industry in Tonota was facing serious challenges of pirating by illegal taxi operators, they saw it fit to have an intervention, hence the formation of the association.

Mr Moatlhodi said there were over 166 taxi operators in Tonota but most of them were operating illegally and outside the gazetted zones. Although he did not refute allegations that some of the taxi drivers were having love relationships with pupils, he defended the issue saying those who did so were not registered members of the association and that it was difficult to take action against such culprits.

“We don’t have the power and capacity to take action against any taxi operators who is not a member of the association,” he said.

Mr Moatlhodi said such operators were also reckless drivers, who compromised the safety of children and any other passenger.

He, therefore, explained that the formation of the association would help in bringing the integrity of the industry back to its glory days.

Mr Moatlhodi also pointed out that some taxi operators in Tonota were doing voluntary work to assist customers with no transport fare by offering them free ride citing examples of students.

He said the association was planning to donate a wheelchair to one resident of the village who was living with disability.

In his remarks, Kgosi Bokamoso Radipitse took swipe at some taxi drivers who continued to alert and update other operators about police road blocks, speed trap, and booze bus traffic blocks through Facebook.

However, he thanked Tonota taxi operators for the formation of their association, adding that associations were important for operators to speak with one voice.

Giving a vote of thanks, Tonota West Councillor, Mr Andy Boatile did not mince his words criticizing some taxi operators for their relationships with female students at Shashe River school.

He disclosed that some of these cases had been reported to the police and it seemed the number continue to increase.  Ends