The Western Cape branch of the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) has broken ranks with its Mpumalanga counterpart over the so-called public lift ban, following a hectic incident in which a motorist was “fined” R2500 for carrying to a potential taxi customer. .

Mpumalanga Santaco president Fanyana Sibanyoni announced on national television that they had “the authority” to stop motorists from picking up hitchhikers, also known as potential passengers, on public roads.

“It’s our business. They are infringing on our rights because as taxi operators, we are the only ones allowed to pick up passengers,” Sibanyoni said in an interview with Newzroom Africa.

A video that has become a trend on social media shows Santaco “patrollers” intimidating and obstructing drivers who offer to give a ride to a pedestrian.

According to IOL, Santaco spokesperson Mmatshikhidi Rebecca Phala said that if a motorist is traveling on a road and sees a hitchhiker on the road, they can stop and offer him a ride. However, if you charge that person for a ride, then you are encroaching on the taxi driver’s territory.

However, Santaco in the Western Cape says they do not operate that way.

Spokesperson Makhosandile Tumana says they would never implement a “lift ban” in the Western Cape: “Not at all, our operations are totally different.”

In a statement on the Santaco Western Cape Facebook page, they said the video that had trended was old.

“Based on recent news regarding a statement by a SANTACO representative warning motorists not to pick up hitchhikers, SANTACO Western Cape highlights the misappropriation of this old video clip and that it does not represent the views of the province,” the post read .

Additionally, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy said preventing men from hitchhiking is a violation of their rights.

During a recent visit to the Moloto Road upgrade in Marble Hall, Limpopo, the minister said: “I think if we want to help our friends we are allowed to do so, obviously if we are providing a public service that is a different matter.”