Dozens of taxis parked on either side of a road Long-distance taxi operators have been on strike since last week in Durban.Picture: DOCTOR NGCOBO Independent Newspapers.
The ongoing taxi strike in KwaZulu-Natal has left thousands stranded, with students, workers and other commuters bearing the brunt of the standoff between taxi operators and the government.
KZN Premier Thami Ntuli will be meeting the taxi associations today in Pietermaritzburg. Chief Director of Provincial Government Communications, Bongani Gina, said the meeting aimed “to find common ground and solutions”.
The strike, which began last Friday, by long-distance taxi operators is over taxis being impounded and permits not being issued. The strike has also seen key routes blockaded, including the N3 highway.
In Durban, several universities have closed their doors for the holidays, leaving students unable to return home due to a lack of transport.
Workers who have wrapped up for the December holidays are similarly affected.
“I had to ask a relative to allow me to stay at their home in Clermont because I cannot get home,” said Thandeka Shabangu, a student at the Durban University of Technology.
“It is frustrating because we have no choice but to wait or try other means like hitch-hiking and it is not safe for me to do so from Durban to Mpumalanga.”
Some commuters have turned to hitch hiking as a last resort, but many say they fear for their safety.
Lwandile Nkosi said she was terrified when she had to hitch-hike from Durban to Estcourt.
“Hitch-hiking is risky, especially for us women, but I had no choice. My mother could not come get me as she is a teacher and is currently at the marking centre,” she said.
Precious Jobe, whose workplace has wrapped up for the December holidays, said she was forced to pay rent for the days she is still in Durban.
“I did not budget for rent in December but my landlord would have kicked me out. This is very frustrating; and I also have a ceremony to attend in Empangeni this coming Saturday,” she said.
The strike, which initially affected eThekwini, has now spread to areas including Hluhluwe, Vryheid, Mondlo, Babanango, Dalton and Nkandla.
KZN police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi weighed in on the ongoing taxi strike during a roadblock led by MEC for Transport Sboniso Duma, on Tuesday, at the N3 Mariannhill Toll Plaza.
He said the strike was neither legal nor widely supported within the taxi industry.
“We have seen what has been happening in this past week. It is not a legal strike, I must say. It is not a strike that has been organised properly,” said Mkhwanazi.
Mkhwanazi commended the majority of taxi associations for distancing themselves from the strike. “We are encouraged that the majority of the taxi associations do not regard this as the right thing to do.”
He further criticised operators who refuse to collect their permits while demanding unrestricted operations.
“(Some are saying) If you don’t give me a permit to operate in this area, then the permit I am supposed to collect, which is already approved, I am not going to fetch it. If you are doing such, it means you are not interested in operating. You just want the freedom to work wherever you deem fit. The government cannot allow such behaviours,” he said.
Mkhwanazi urged permit-holders to collect their permits and address their grievances through proper channels. He also assured the public that law enforcement is committed to ensuring compliance.
He said public transport remains available.
“People must rest assured that they can freely get into public transport and go wherever they want to go because the majority of the associations are not part of this chaos.”
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