Mamelodi taxi protest causes chaos on roads

The streets of Mamelodi were barricaded with rocks and burning tyres on Wednesday morning due to a taxi strike, causing chaos on the roads, reports Pretoria East Rekord.

From the early hours of this morning, hundreds of taxi drivers believed to be associated with the Mamelodi Amalgamated Taxi Association (Mata) stopped all public transport from operating in the area.

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Residents, including school children, trying to exit the township were hampered and had to seek alternative roads, causing major backlogs.

Mata officials said they were aware of the protest, but could not confirm if their members were involved.

Police spokesperson Captain Johannes Maheso urged motorists to avoid Solomon Mahlangu Drive, and to use other alternative routes.

“The situation is under control and we are keeping a very close eye on the protesters.

“We have not yet established the reason for the protest, but we are engaging with taxi bosses,” Maheso told Pretoria East Rekord.

A taxi driver, who did not want to be named, told Pretoria East Rekord that drivers were expected to pay a “protection fee” of R200 every week to the association.

He said the protest was held to bring the issue forward in order to stop the paying of the “protection fee”.

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