No more taxi association protests – for now
Another meeting between Mpumalanga premier, Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, and Lowveld taxi associations is expected to take place on October 18.
Lowveld taxi associations met with Mpumalanga premier, Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, on Tuesday afternoon in a bid to end future road blockades and bring stability to the transport sector.
The meeting followed the mass protests by these associations across Mbombela and other parts of the Lowveld on September 28, which saw major roads, and Buscor depots and routes blocked.
The strike also saw several cases of public violence and malicious damage to property being opened against protesters, and an attack on a public order police official.
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A statement from the Office of the Premier said she was optimistic regarding the outcome of the meeting, which included discussions about the transportation by the bus company, Buscor, of commuters beyond the set time and in new settlements.
Mtshweni-Tsipane deferred the meeting to Tuesday October 18 for consultation.
She said this will afford her and the administration an opportunity to study the contract with a view to explore a sustainable solution, and share it with all the stakeholders in the next sitting.
“The transport sector is key to the Mpumalanga Economic Reconstruction Plan following the outbreak of Covid,” said the statement.
“The stability of the sector is a key lever for the realisation of the plan and the safety of the commuters.”
The premier has appealed to all stakeholders not to resort to violence. She said government will spare no effort to address the concerns, especially in October, which is Transport Month.
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Meanwhile, the taxi associations have said they will continue fighting for their demands to be met, but are not planning another blockade of the roads.
Topstar Taxi Association’s chairperson, John Mavundla, said they chose to go out onto the roads because they wanted to be heard by the Mpumalanga Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport.
“We have tried to be heard since 2017, but they never listened until we closed the roads,” said Mavundla. “We are currently in negotiations with the premier, and this means we do not have to protest. If our demands are not met, we plan to escalate the matter to the minister of transport, Fikile Mbalula, and if he does not assist us, we will go to President Cyril Ramaphosa.”
Buscor’s spokesperson, Thomas Lubisi, said it was not invited to Tuesday’s meeting with the premier, but said everything was running smoothly on its side.
A provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Donald Mdhluli, said no arrests had been made in the cases of public violence and malicious damage to property, or the attack on a police officer.
