Taxi drivers from the Mutale Taxi Association have closed the taps on the Nyaope Boys by blocking all taxis that picked up passengers at bus stations in and around Thohoyandou.
The Nyaope boys used to make money by loading passengers at bus stations into taxis. The boys were paid R1 per passenger for doing this. As most taxis normally carry a maximum of 15 passengers, excluding the taxi driver, they made around R15 rand per taxi.
According to the taxi association, the Nyaope boys made a fortune every day, then used the money to buy nyaope and other drugs, such as ganja. One of the taxi drivers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said this method of loading passengers at bus ranks had paved the way for taxi drivers without valid working permits to operate illegally, to the disadvantage of those who did have legal permits.
"We have decided that, instead of blocking roads and inconveniencing the working class (public) from getting to and from work, to stop [the Nyaope boys] from loading passengers at bus ranks. This is to protect our jobs, but at the same time also to block cash taps for these boys," he said.
All taxis are now expected to pick up and drop passengers off at the taxi ranks only, unless it is on their way to a certain destination, or out of town.
Meanwhile, the general secretary of the Mutale Taxi Association, Mr Tshimangadzo Mphigalale, said drivers were doing a very good job of protecting their livelihood, and passengers as well. "They have made the right decision. It was difficult for passengers to trace their luggage if they forgot some in the taxis, because we didn't know which taxis they used. At the taxi rank, if you forget your luggage, you just tell us the time you left the taxi rank and we go to the taxi marshal and get the plate number of the taxi and the driver's name. Those Nyaope boys were also robbing our passengers when they arrived late at bus stops. We are very happy that they are no longer there," he said.