A strike by taxi drivers in KwaZulu-Natal entered its second day on Tuesday with more reports of intimidation and violence.
Provincial transport MEC Bheki Cele said he had received reports from various officials that strikers had resumed their strategy of stoning buses and non-striking taxis.
He said there are also reports of strikers assaulting and robbing non-striking drivers as well as stoning private vehicles providing lifts to stranded commuters.
”We know they [the striking drivers] took a resolution to stop any form of transport moving and transporting people. Clearly this is not a strike to highlight their grievances, but they have a bigger agenda. Why target innocent passengers when their conflict is with the department?” Cele said in a statement.
The drivers, part of the KwaZulu-Natal Taxi Alliance, embarked on the strike on Monday over the government’s taxi recapitalisation plan and what they call the harassment of taxi operators by the provincial transport department.
Cele said that in Empangeni and Esikhawini strikers blockaded roads from Ngwelezane and threw stones at private vehicles giving lifts to commuters.
A bus driver was assaulted and two buses shot at in Clermont. In Durban North, two strikers were arrested after buses were stoned and six passengers injured. Strikers also blockaded the Nandi and Phoenix roads, and in KwaMashu commuters were forced out of buses.
Cele said he had instructed the police, metro police and road traffic inspectorate to step up operations and arrest law breakers.
”We will not only deal with the ordinary striker who breaks the law, but will even investigate charges against their leaders who obviously gave these instructions,” he said.
The alliance could not be reached for comment. – Sapa