Taxi drivers take on metro cops

TAXI drivers, who have allegedly been parking their taxis illegally in Mathews Meyiwa Road (First Avenue), took on metro police on Thursday, blocking off Mathews Meyiwa and other roads around Durban Station, burning tyres and throwing objects at police.

The drivers were reacting to the fact Metro Police had impounded six taxis on Thursday for parking illegally in the road, and they had had enough.

This comes after taxi drivers were told last month that they were no longer allowed to park on Mathews Meyiwa and on the vacant land near it, and that they should park in a holding area in the Dalton Hostel area.

Drivers said the Metro Police knew this area was too far from where they worked on Mathews Meyiwa Road, yet they still impounded their vehicles.

They said they were sick of being ‘abused’ by the police, who they said were making their working conditions difficult.

Drivers wanted Eugene Nzama, head of Metro Police explain to them how long this would go on for, as they were not going to move until he told them exactly where they could park their taxis.

Metro police spokesman, Eugene Msomi, said these drivers were not allowed to park off illegally if their allocated rank was full and the issue of Dalton being too far was something they could discuss with eThekwini Transport Authority.
He said Metro Police’s duty was to ensure compliance with road traffic laws.