The first black-owned national bus liner, African People Mover (APM), was yesterday vandalised by taxi operators on the Butterworth and Dutywa route.
The taxi operators said APM’s lower prices were costing them business as commuters were leaving in droves to take the buses instead.
The new kid on the block, which has been operating for nearly three years since December 12 2014, introduced routes from Mthatha via Butterworth and Dutywa to Pretoria last Thursday in a bid to meet their passengers’ needs. In response, the local taxi operators have been making life difficult for the bus liner at designated bus stops. They say the bus liner’s cheaper prices have hit their business hard.
APM chief operations officer Justin Mnkandla said they had appealed to Police Minister Fikile Mbalula to intervene after one of their buses was vandalised yesterday morning.
“The choice of our passengers’ mode of transport is being undermined by people who behave like they own the road,” he said.
“It is sad that the same bus, owned and managed by blacks, and which enables low-cost travelling and safety for the people, is victimised by its own people.”
“Our bus drivers have been having a hard time getting around the local taxi operators, who have been parking them in and not allowing them to drive to relevant places,” Mnkandla added.
Uncedo Service Taxi Association Butterworth chairman Mandla Ntakana said APM was a big threat to their industry because of their low prices.
“We have an agreement with the other buses that travel through our routes and those agreements were tabled years ago.
“What they are doing isn’t affecting us because their prices are still not in the same bracket as ours.
“But APM is charging R350 from Butterworth to Johannesburg, meanwhile we as taxi operators are charging R450,” Ntakana said.
Butterworth police spokesman Captain Jackson Manatha said all the concerned parties would engage in a meeting about the matter today. — mbalit@dispatch.co.za
Taxis drivers damage APM bus
The taxi operators said APM’s lower prices were costing them business as commuters were leaving in droves to take the buses instead.
The new kid on the block, which has been operating for nearly three years since December 12 2014, introduced routes from Mthatha via Butterworth and Dutywa to Pretoria last Thursday in a bid to meet their passengers’ needs. In response, the local taxi operators have been making life difficult for the bus liner at designated bus stops. They say the bus liner’s cheaper prices have hit their business hard.
APM chief operations officer Justin Mnkandla said they had appealed to Police Minister Fikile Mbalula to intervene after one of their buses was vandalised yesterday morning.
“The choice of our passengers’ mode of transport is being undermined by people who behave like they own the road,” he said.
“It is sad that the same bus, owned and managed by blacks, and which enables low-cost travelling and safety for the people, is victimised by its own people.”
“Our bus drivers have been having a hard time getting around the local taxi operators, who have been parking them in and not allowing them to drive to relevant places,” Mnkandla added.
Uncedo Service Taxi Association Butterworth chairman Mandla Ntakana said APM was a big threat to their industry because of their low prices.
“We have an agreement with the other buses that travel through our routes and those agreements were tabled years ago.
“What they are doing isn’t affecting us because their prices are still not in the same bracket as ours.
“But APM is charging R350 from Butterworth to Johannesburg, meanwhile we as taxi operators are charging R450,” Ntakana said.
Butterworth police spokesman Captain Jackson Manatha said all the concerned parties would engage in a meeting about the matter today. — mbalit@dispatch.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos