Public transport in Cape Town and its surrounds has stabilised somewhat following two weeks of disruption due to ongoing conflict over routes between two rival taxi associations.
The United Taxi Associations Front says it will hand over a memorandum to the department of transport and community safety because it believes the taxi industry has been “sidelined” by the City of Joburg on numerous occasions.
Here are seven facts about the taxi strike:
- Striking taxi operators are demanding a dedicated lane similar to that of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.
- The strikers are calling for the scrapping of the e-tolls system. They claim they receive phone calls and invoices threatening legal action if they don’t pay.
- According to the taxi owners, their old permits are not transferred on purchase of new vehicles, which leads to run-ins with the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD). They want the police to stop harassing them about this issue.
- Rea Vaya is under pressure today as scores of taxi commuters have been left stranded.
- Matric pupils will be delayed for their exams due to the lack of taxis.
- The Gauteng department of education (GDE) has made an exception for latecomers.
- The N12 highway is at a complete standstill, as taxi drivers make their way out of Soweto to participate in the strike and hand over the memorandum.
The affected areas are Soweto, Alexandra, Bree Street, the N12 highway and the Joburg CBD.