BuaNews (Tshwane)
Luyanda Makapela
5 November 2008
Witbank — Taxi operations have returned to normal in Witbank after a dispute between long distance and local taxi associations following the disagreements over sharing of routes at the Emalahleni Local Municipality.
The conflict between the Local Taxi Associations (LOTA), Duva United Long Distance Taxi Association (DULDTA) and Emalahleni Taxi Industry (ETI) erupted on Monday and Tuesday after a misunderstanding on the transportation of commuters from in and around Witbank and other long distances.
Following the intervention by the provincial department, police and the Emalahleni Local Municipality, aimed at establishing a smooth way of ending the conflict between the three taxi associations, an agreement has been reached, said the Mpumalanga Department of Roads and Transport in a statement.
The meetings took a resolution to establish a task team that will resolve all the problems and identify the root causes of the conflict.
The task team will further look at lasting solutions towards ending the conflict while looking at a working mechanism of establishing a single taxi association in Emalahleni, the department said.
The task team, which will be convened by Emalahleni Municipal Manager Ananius Langa will comprise of representatives from the municipality, the Department of Roads and Transport, taxi associations and the police.
According to the Department of Roads and Transport, operations in the taxi ranks have since resumed and will be monitored by the law enforcement agencies including, public transport inspectors, police and Emalahleni traffic officials.
The taxi operators involved have expressed their apologies to commuters for the inconveniences that may have occurred on Monday and Tuesday, while the department announced that it was willing to engage any stakeholder in trying to prevent such occurrences in the future. -
Summit to address workplace accidents
Pretoria - The Department of Labour will on Tuesday host a high level construction summit following the recent spate of accidents in the workplace that have claimed lives and left scores of people injured.
The gathering, to be held at the Birchwood Conference Centre in Ekurhuleni will be addressed by Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana.
The summit aims at setting targets to reduce the number of fatalities, raise awareness about health and safety issues on construction sites, reduce the number of health-related injuries and deaths.
It also aims to put together an effective practical strategy to deal with the incidents in line with the Occupational Health and Safety Accord signed between the department, business and labour unions in 2002.
The accord also seeks to reduce the high number of work-related accidents and to create a healthy and safe working environment at workplaces.
In South Africa, the iron and steel, construction, agriculture, food, drink and beverage sectors are identified as sectors with the highest risks when it comes to workplace health and safety accidents countrywide.
The four sectors contribute 47 percent of reported workplace injuries and fatalities received by the department's inspectorate.
Inspectors from the department continuously conduct work place inspections countrywide to ensure labour law compliance.
This is to ensure compliance to labour laws by employers.
According to the Occupational Health and Safety Act, employers are required to bring about and maintain a reasonable practicable work environment that is safe and without risk to the health of workers. Employers found not adhering to labour laws are fined or given written warnings.
Among those scheduled to participate at the summit are representatives of trade unions, business, professional architects and designers, occupational health and safety legal expects as well as government departments.
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