Taxi drivers eye parliament
Associations to contest 2019 general and provincial elections
Most people have a dim view of taxi drivers but if they have it their way, they will be in parliament and provincial legislatures after next year’s polls.
Taxi associations across SA have established the Alliance for Transformation for All (ATA) – which will contest the 2019 general and provincial elections.
ATA, has registered with the IEC and on Saturday, the Chris Hani region will launch the first regional structure in the province.
ATA provincial spokesperson Zanemvula Zinja said the organisation was already operational in seven provinces with the exception of Limpopo and the Northern Cape.
Zinja said the Cape ATA, Congress of Democratic Taxi Associations, Mitchells Plain Taxi Association, UncedoService Taxi Association, the Greater Bloemfontein TaxiAssociations, Gauteng Associations like Alexander TaxiAssociation, Noord Street Taxi Association, Bree Street TaxiAssociation and East Rand (Ekurhuleni Taxi Associations), Soweto Taxi Association and KZN Taxi Associations were among the founders.
“This organisation will represent different taxi associations, hawkers, the communities, church and young people,” he said.
Zinja said after launching the party in Chris Hani, they would go to other regions before going to a provincial and national elective and consultative conferences.
“We decided to form this organisation because the government plans to take us out of business by making us feeders for buses.
“We also have route permits which are renewed every time, fines and our taxis areimpounded every now and again by the department,” he said.
ATA would also ensure an end to the fight over operating taxi routes which often turn deadly.
“We have noticed that foreign nationals have taken over our businesses in the townships and our traditional churches don’t have sites. We will be representing those people who have been left out.
“We don’t want to run SA but we want a voice in parliament,” he said.
Zinja said building up to the elections they they would work with opposition parties.
“We’ll be representing the hawkers, calling for them to have shares in businesses operating in their areas, headmen to earn as much as councillors and their boards to earn the same money as ward committees,” Zinja said.
“With the number of taxis and hawkers in SA, we’re guaranteed seats in parliament. With the associations’ membership, we have the financial muscle. Our members will be deployed to parliament for one term and the next term will be given to another person.
“People must not be afraid. This organisation will not be led by taxi drivers only, hawkers and community members will be elected to lead the organisation,” said Zinja.
IEC spokesperson Tumi Sethoba confirmed that ATA had registered with the commission...
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