Towing turf wars come under fire
'It is something we need to deal with because it is getting violent'
THE behaviour of breakdown and towing companies were once again placed in the spotlight at an Empangeni crime meeting last week.
The issue of ‘turf wars’ was raised by members of the Empangeni’s Community Policing Forum (CPF) during their monthly meeting at the Empangeni SAPS Boardroom on Thursday.
According to members, breakdown and towing services are not adhering to proper protocol as they feel they are above the law.
One example raised was breakdown services personnel tampering with accident scenes before the police arrive.
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‘In some cases breakdown companies tow away a vehicle and even take the driver away before SAPS are present to conduct an investigation..
‘How can SAPS be expected to do their work if only one vehicle is at the scene of an accident,’ said one member.
Another member raised the issue of ‘turf wars’, saying breakdown companies from one area are not allowed to enter another’s area to tow vehicles away.
‘This has been an ongoing issue, and it is something we need to deal with because it is getting violent.
‘We previously raised the issue with the MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Mxolisi Kaunda, at a meeting in Richards Bay.
‘The MEC said he would look into the matter and would look at forming a task team to deal with this, however nothing has been done and we need to get this issue under control.
‘We recently had an incident where SAPS were called as things were getting out of hand after one towing company would not allow another to remove a vehicle.
‘We have spoken to the Natal Towing Association (NTA) in the past to see how they could assist, but they said the matter is out of their hands.
‘At the end of the day this puts the lives of the public at risk.’
Empangeni CPF Chairperson and City of uMhlathuze Deputy Mayor, Silondile Mkhize, was shocked to hear the level to which the problem has escalated.
King Cetshwayo police spokesperson, Captain Mbongeni Mdlalose, said this was not a new issue.
‘This has been going on for quite some time and I feel that we need to get the Cluster Commander involved by calling a meeting with all the breakdown and towing companies in the area to come up with a solution.’
Speaking to the ZO after the meeting, Mdlalose noted that the issue of turf wars was not restricted to the towing industry only.
‘This is now becoming an issue even among funeral parlours. We find that if someone from a certain area needs to be buried elsewhere, funeral parlours from outside that area will not be allowed in by the local operators.
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