The police have warned that illegal taxi operators will face heavy fines and eventual arrest following concerns over rising numbers of unauthorised passenger vehicles.
Operators will be arrested for ‘habitual offence’ upon a third transgression of the law, the police say.
This follows concerns raised by the Namibia Public Passenger Transport Association (NPPTA) about private vehicles operating as taxi drivers at Rundu in the Kavango East region.
The association’s vice president, Hamutenya Katembo, says it has recorded 3 450 illegally operating cars since 2018.
He yesterday warned that these taxis are not safe for passengers to be transported in as the drivers sometimes rob travellers.
“There are currently 600 registered taxis. I urge all taxis to do the same. Taxis must be branded, and must have taxi lights to be easily identified. They must be differentiated as such,” he said.
Many people are driving illegally, Katembo said.
Police head of traffic law enforcement commissioner Petrus Swartz says anyone found to be operating illegally will be punished with fines of more than N$2 000, depending on the nature of the offence.
“It is the first time I hear of illegal taxis, but if we catch you, we will deal with you. The first fine is N$2 000, the second time we catch you is N$4 000, and if you continue, you will be arrested because you are then a habitual offender,” he says.
Swartz says an authorised taxi driver must have a valid driving permit, as prescribed by the Road Transport and Traffic Act, an operator’s card, and a health report from a doctor.
Taxi driver Tauno Simeon says illegal taxis do exist.
“If you go to Otjomuise, Okuryangava, Ombili, and the Miami Service bus stop, you will find them there,” he says.
PERMIT DELAYS TO BLAME
He says although illegal taxis are “taking away legal operators’ bread”, they are operating as such due to the long process of obtaining a permit.
“Sometimes we should understand why the people are doing so. They want to be registered, but it is difficult. Permanent permits take between six and eight months to obtain, and a temporary one is N$850 per month. That is too much,” Simeon says.
Minister of works and transport Veikko Nekundi yesterday said no individual is permitted to transport passengers for a reward without a valid permit.
Windhoek City Police spokesperson Marcelline Murapo says they are aware of vehicles transporting passengers for a reward without the required documentation within the city.
“As a law enforcement agency, we continue to encounter opportunistic individuals who unlawfully transport passengers for reward without the necessary permits and authorisation from the city. It’s not easy to identify them, but we depend on those operating as they know each other well, and sometimes during our roadblocks, otherwise it’s not easy at all,” she says.
The Municipality of Windhoek Street and Traffic Regulations Act states that no motor vehicle shall “ply for hire or reward, and no person shall permit, cause, or allow any motor vehicle to be used to ply for hire or reward within the Windhoek municipal area, unless such motor vehicle has been duly registered by the council”.
The law also says any person using a vehicle, conveying passengers or goods, or both, “shall be presumed to convey such passengers or goods for hire or reward, and such vehicle shall be assumed to be a public vehicle unless in either case the contrary is proved”.
Murapo says the contravention of the regulation will lead to a fine of N$1 000.
“The deliberate disregard of legal requirements undermines the rule of law and cannot be condoned,” she says.
The Windhoek City Police are urging the public to adhere to the legal processes and ensure full compliance with the relevant regulations to avoid the legal consequences.
‘ILLEGAL TAXIS HELP ME’
Taxi customer Panduleni Nekongo says she often uses illegal taxis, because registered taxis are often not willing to travel to her workplace. “To be honest, illegal taxis have helped me before when I’m late and no taxi stops – only the guy in the private car,” she says.
Nekongo says she has not encountered safety issues using private vehicles.
Another taxi user, Rauna Nashinge, acknowledges that some illegal operators could rob customers, although she has never experienced it.
“I choose private cars sometimes, because they are the only ones available,” she says.
The driver of an illegal taxi yesterday told The Namibian he operates illegally to survive.
The driver, who is a student, said he needs money for petrol to drive to school, and cannot afford it if he does not transport customers.
“I understand we are operating illegally, but we have no choice. I go to school. Where am I supposed to get fuel money?” he asked.
He said he cannot operate as a Yango driver, because customers often need to travel to places he cannot afford the petrol for.
