Post-taxi blockade negotiations continue

The Bela-Bela Local Municipality has said that talks aimed at finding lasting solutions over the stand-off between taxi operators and traffic authorities would continue in coming days.

Municipal spokesperson, Kabelo Mosito, said on Moday 23 September that talks between the stakeholders was an ongoing exercise.

He was speaking against the backdrop of a chaotic stand-off in recent weeks, when scores of learners and workers were left stranded during a taxi blockade.

The blockade was during morning peak hours in Bela-Bela, on Tuesday 17 September.

At the time taxi operators on the ground alleged that they had embarked on the blockade because they were being allegedly harassed by traffic authorities, demanding special permits to transport
learners.

They alleged vehicles were often being impounded.

An extraordinary meeting was facilitated by Bela-Bela municipal manager, Michael Makhubela, on the sidelines of the ongoing blockade, which helped to calm down the situation.

Operations have since been brought back to full capacity at the local taxi rank, which resembled a ghost town at the time of the peak-hour protest

— The BEAT