Scores of learners and workers were left stranded during a taxi blockade at morning peak hours in Bela-Bela on Tuesday 17 September.
Taxi operators on the ground alleged that they had embarked on the blockade because they were being harassed by traffic authorities, demanding special permits to transport learners.
They alleged vehicles were often being impounded.
Some of the taxi operators alleged the authorities were being selective in their implementation of the rules, in that some traffic officers turn a blind eye to certain offenders with
connections to the authorities.
Bela-Bela Local Municipality spokesperson, Kabelo Mosito, confirmed that an all-embracing meeting was held between affected parties, facilitated by municipal manager, Michael Makhubela,
The meeting, involving the municipality, SAPS, provincial, district and local traffic authorities, resolved to continue with engagements, going forward.
Earlier during morning peak-hours, several members of the police in vans had their hands full clearing a blockade by minibus taxis from the dirt road towards the local industrial area.
Just about then some of the taxi operators drove their vehicles to the vicinity of the works department, again blockading the side-road junction towards the central business district.
The side-road junction rightwards to the traffic department and the police station was also affected.
Bela-Bela Mayor Jeremiah Ngobeni, Makhubela and officials from the police and traffic department arrived at the scene.
The Bela-Bela downtown taxi rank resembled a ghost town, with not a single taxi in sight, meaning emergency, security and other workers on night shift also had to walk long distances back home.
Workers wearing the ATKV Klein-Kariba uniforms were seen walking in little groups from the railway crossing to their workplace, apparently after being forced to disembark taxis transporting
them to work.
By midday the taxi operators’ leadership, municipality, local and provincial traffic authorities were locked up in a meeting, thrashing out the issues at hand.
– The BEAT
