By Neelam Rahim

Police Minister Bheki Cele has announced that a police task team is to be established to address the violence linked to the KwaZulu-Natal taxi industry. Last week, the minister met with taxi industry members in Ugu and Harry Gwala districts, explaining that the task team will comprise various government departments and structures. Since the beginning of the year, 24 people have been killed in taxi violence in these districts. Experts are not optimistic about the task team.

In discussion with Radio Islam, is Professor Nirmala Gopal, a University of KwaZulu-Natal criminologist.

An age-old problem, taxi violence has been with us since the early 80’s when we moved between apartheid and democracy.

According to Prof Nirmala, the SAPS 2016/17 Annual Crime Report very categorically tells us that most of the taxi violence at the time I suspect continues in the same lane was related to and is probably still related to route disputes, internal power struggles within and between taxi associations.

She says it’s a very violent industry. Revenge and power struggles feature highly for why this violence perpetuates itself.

Prof Niramala also tells Radio Islam about the records and history of South African task teams. It is doubtful that we will have an outcome that will be any different to previous task teams.

“Personally and professionally, I don’t have much hope in this task team.”

For the full interview, listen to Radio Islam’s podcast below.