Death threats against Meyerton’s new TukTuk Taxi Service
The owner of an inventive new TukTuk taxi service in the Midvaal area says he won’t be put off by death threats from local taxi drivers.
Jaco Neethling, owner of Village Tuk-Tuk’s says his tuk-tuk drivers are threatened and intimidated by taxi drivers. Photo: Christiaan Cloete
Jaco Neethling founded the e-hailing Village Tuk-Tuk service about a month ago, but not everyone accepted the new taxi initiative with open arms.
“The Village Tuk-Tuk team has received serious death threats from local taxi drivers, simply because they provide an affordable and much-needed transport alternative. This is not just an attack on our business – it is an attack on your right to choose safe, reliable, and affordable transport,” Neethling said in a statement.
This follows at least two incidents in which taxi drivers threatened drivers of the newly established TukTuk service.
The e-hailing Village Tuk-Tuk service has a fleet of eight taxis and provides work to several drivers.
“Since the launch of our taxi service, we have worked hard to uplift our community, create jobs, and provide a transport solution that benefits everyone. We contacted authorities in good faith and followed due process, but we now face intimidation and threats against our lives,” says Neethling.
Neethling appealed to the public, local business people, and authorities to join hands with them and ensure that violence and intimidation do not dictate the future of transport in the community.
“No one has to fear for their lives simply because they provide a service that helps people,” Neethling believes.
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