In an effort to instil discipline among association members, the Congress of the Democratic Taxi Association (Codeta) has fired a taxi driver and his conductor after they were allegedly involved in the robbery of a woman’s cellphone.
It was alleged that the incident occurred in Belhar on Tuesday, 12 May.
Viral video captures cellphone snatching incident
In a video circulating on social media, a woman can be seen standing on the street using her cellphone when a taxi with a Codeta sticker approaches. A conductor then jumps out of the taxi, grabs the phone from the woman, and runs back into the vehicle, which then drives away.
The taxi was operating on the Delft to Epping route.
Codeta spokesperson Makhosandile Tumana confirmed that both the driver and the conductor had been dismissed.
Driver found without a valid licence
He said it was also discovered that the driver did not have a valid driving licence.
“I’m not sure how long the driver has been working in the association. But we have told them they will never work in the taxi industry anywhere in the country. We have circulated their pictures so that other organisations can identify them,” Tumana said. He added that the association intends to call the owner of the taxi to account for hiring a driver without a licence.
However, he did not mention the exact date of the meeting with the taxi owner.
Association tightens discipline among members
“We are trying to instil discipline in the organisation. It is not the first time we are dismissing drivers, especially those who are ill-disciplined towards commuters. And we can see other drivers are behaving now,” he said.
According to Codeta’s Facebook page, the woman later recovered her cellphone and stated that she would not open a case against the perpetrators.
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