Police impound 37 rioters’ taxis

THE police yesterday towed away 37 taxis after their striking drivers defied a call to disperse.

Some taxi drivers in Windhoek, led by the Namibia Transport and Taxi Union (NTTU), embarked on a demonstration to demand a 20% fare increase.

A private tow-in company was called in at 15h00 to remove unattended vehicles that were blocking the road into Mahatma Gandhi Street and Hosea Kutako Avenue.

Police commissioner Willem Steenkamp told yesterday that the cars were towed away after the owners refused to remove their cars which were parked in the middle of the road, obstructing the flow of traffic.

According to the commissioner, the drivers later went to the tow-in company’s yard to retrieve their impounded vehicles.

Steenkamp said the drivers will be made to pay an unspecified fine for the vehicles.

“Some of them have already received their cars,” he said.

NTTU president Werner Januarie said he pleaded with the Khomas regional commander that all vehicles be returned without the owners being made to pay any fines.

The demonstration ended at around 16h00 after Januarie claimed that they were threatened with being “shot at with rubber bullets and tear gas”.

Steenkamp dismissed the claims as being untrue, and said the police did not threaten the drivers with any violent action.

Januarie said he was in a meeting with police officers when the cars were towed away, and when he came out, only saw six to seven cars remaining.

One driver was handcuffed after recklessly driving on the premises, but was later released.

The strike started off in the early morning hours at the City Police headquarters.

The taxi drivers blocked the road leading to the City Police headquarters, and shouted at other taxi drivers who were ferrying passengers during the demonstration.

Steenkamp urged Januarie to discuss the issue with his followers and disperse peacefully.

“Handling the group of agitated union members is not easy, everyone wants things done his own way,” he said, adding that the situation might have turned violent.

Steenkamp added that decisions could not be made overnight, and the ministry of works requires more than the two-hour ultimatum to come up with a decision, and relay it to the taxi drivers.

“Two hours is a short period to discuss the memorandum, so the deputy permanent secretary of works needs more time,” he said.

Januarie relayed this to his group, who refused to disperse until they received a response.

City Police ended up sealing the road leading to their headquarters to prevent the striking drivers from terrorising those drivers who were ferrying passengers.

Januarie said for now, they will take legal action against the ministry of works with the help of their sponsor since their demands have not been met.

“We NNTU and potential sponsors are aware that it would cost us between N$600 000 and N$1 million to launch a successful court action against the government and the sponsors are ready to put up that money,” he said.

Januarie said the name of their sponsors will be revealed in due course as they plan to set up business here.

The grievances raised by the union include a demand for a 20% taxi fare increase; decrease of the high fines for traffic offences; having enough taxi stops designated so that drivers do not stop at undesignated points to pick up passengers; the speedy issuance of taxi permits; and the recognition of NTTU as the taxi drivers’ representative union.