Eight drivers were injured and two others left dead after the occupants of a white Toyota with Gauteng number plates fired randomly at the gathering.
The four male occupants of the white Toyota were later arrested by the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police (EMPD) on the N3 south, not far from the Vosloorus on-ramp and about a kilometer away from the Sebenza Taxi Rank, where the drivers had gathered since early morning in a bid to defuse the impasse.
The one who died at the scene was shot several times in the abdomen and chest. The second victim later died in hospital, as a result of his injuries.
The eight injured drivers were rushed to the nearby Thelle Mogoerane Hospital in Vosloorus.
On-going negotiations between the two warring factions reached a climax on Thursday when more than 500 drivers gathered outside the Sebenza Taxi Rank in Vosloorus, and demanded to negotiate with their taxi bosses with the hope of ending the strike.
However, the discussions between the drivers and the owners’ two-man delegation, led by W. Mthethwa and the Vosloorus Taxi Association chairperson, MW Mthethwa, reached a heated point when the drivers accused their bosses of “negotiating in bad faith”, after the taxi bosses demanded that the talks be held in a hall inside the ranks. The drivers rejected the request.
Throughout the eight-hour long standoff, both sides levelled serious allegations of violence, murder, theft and unscrupulous business practices against each other and before the end of the day, death and mayham followed, leading to the arrest of the four men in a white Toyota bakkie on the N3, south, just outside Vosloorus.
While both the EMPD and the SAPS tried to quell the volatile situation outside the Sebenza Taxi Rank, both sides stood their ground and remained adamant that both were negotiating in bad faith.
Allegations against the drivers, levelled by the owners, include:
* The theft of vehicles by drivers, which the owners claim were later found in other provinces and even across the borders of South Africa where they had been sold to other operators, or stripped and parts sold as scrap.
* Theft of cash collected from passengers.
* Ill-treating and assaulting passengers.
* Threatening owners with violence and even death.
The owners also told the Kathorus MAIL that the drivers were being unreasonable in the demands, since they as owners, were the one’s who carried the risks of the success of the business and thus ensured the drivers remained employed.
“How can someone who does not know how a mini-bus taxi costs be expect to share a business they do no own?” asked one owner, as the two warring factions faced each other in the open area outside the Sebenza Taxi Rank.
Meanwhile, the drivers accused their bosses of being unreasonable and greedy by expecting them to bring more money while refusing to service the taxis they operate.
“We are treated like slaves and expected to work long hours, even on weekends, for very little pay,” said several drivers who had gathered to express their anger and grievances against their bosses.
Later in the day, as the volatile negotiations continued under tense conditions, a spokesperson for the drivers handed the Kathorus MAIL a list of their demands and grievances which they say they want their bosses to meet before they (drivers) can go back to work.
The demands were:
* Bosses should immediately call an end to the assaults and violence which saw three of their fellow drivers being admitted to hospital since the strike started on Monday, October 13.
* Demanding that the owners should not drive their own vehicles.
* Demanding that both drivers and the bosses should meet and discuss matters.
* Owners should refrain from dismissing drivers unfairly.
* The role of Queue Marshalls should rotate.
* Over-time pay for weekend work.
* A payment of R10 000 by the owners to the drivers for pointing firearm at them.
* The creation of a driver’s committee.
* That they be allowed to handle their matters without the interference of their bosses, including the collection of death donations to their members.
