UPDATE: Mounting tension between meter taxi drivers and Uber

This after Talk Radio 702 host, Yusuf Abramjee, tweeted a message he received from someone who informed him of an alleged squabble between meter and Uber taxi drivers near Sandton City.

#Uber @Uber_RSA @CityofJoburgZA @ismailvadi @TheGautrain = Plse probe. https://t.co/gUnlrJLiXl

— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) July 6, 2015

Read Meter taxi drivers allegedly attack Uber car in Sandton

Wayne Minnaar, spokesperson for Metro police said, “We, together with the police, will be monitoring the areas where the meter taxis operate to maintain order.

“If there was an attack on somebody then it should be reported to the Sandton Police Station for investigation.”

Read Taxi drivers protest against Uber

Warrant Officer Moses Maphakela, spokesperson for the Sandton police said, “There was just a misunderstanding between the drivers.” He added that police officers have been monitoring the area where the meter taxis park outside of Sandton City since the alleged squabble. “Nothing has been happening at the moment,” he said.

Ward 103 councillor Vincent Earp said meter taxis have accused Uber of taking their clients. “The meter taxis don’t want competition, especially from a competitor who has a better service offering to clients,” he alleged.

“If the meter taxis were more professional and gave good service and charged reasonable rates, there wouldn’t be a problem.”

Uber is not a taxi company but rather a taxi cab app provided on a smartphone.

“Uber operators are trained and are courteous, have clean vehicles and they are a lot cheaper to use,” added Earp.

“Residents want safe, reliable and affordable transport. Competition is healthy.”

He added that the City of Johannesburg needed to take action against meter taxi drivers’ lawlessness or there would be violence and chaos in the industry as seen in the minibus taxi industry.

The Gautrain also weighed in on the allegations of attacks on Uber passengers by meter taxi drivers.

“Allegations that Gautrain security had prevented commuters from using the taxi services offered by Uber are fals (sic) and unfounded,” they tweeted.

Allegations that Gautrain security had prevented commuters from using the taxi services offered by Uber are fals and unfounded.

— Gautrain (@TheGautrain) July 7, 2015

This is a developing story and more information will be published as it becomes available.

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