WATCH: Shots fired, rocks thrown in Bloemfontein taxi strike
The protest action has left thousands stranded in Bloemfontein.
A general view of a taxi, 26 April 2019. Picture: Refilwe Modise
Footage of police opening fire while rocks are thrown at them has surfaced showing a highly hostile situation in Bloemfontein as taxi drivers have embarked on a strike due to allegedly unfair treatment by traffic officials.
Both taxi and bus commuters were left stranded on Wednesday morning since the strike began on Tuesday evening. Metered taxi operators who are not on strike have been stopped from transporting people.
Frustrated commuters have been left with no alternative as the strike continues into day two, with no indication of when the strike will end.
There was a stand-off between police & taxi operators in central Bloemfontein yesterday. The bone of contention is competition for commuters between bus company & taxi operators. pic.twitter.com/R9hEoShx9B
— Bra Hloni (@BraHlonisky) July 24, 2019
SABC reports that local government intends to meet with bus and taxi drivers for a way forward as thousands have been left stranded. Taxi drivers claim they are forced to take people out of metered taxis. One of the challenges mentioned as a reason for the disgruntled drivers is alleged to be over routes.
They call for an amicable solution to be reached over routes as the interstate bus has been allegedly scavenging their routes.
One commuter asked taxi operators to inform them when they embarked on protest action as this often inconvenienced them.
Taxi and bus commuters are stranded in Bloemfontein in the Free State. Traffic flow is also badly affected. Disgruntled taxi operators have shut down the city centre. #sabcnews #SABCFS pic.twitter.com/3rCbPZM2k0
— Masiteng Makgala (@masitengmakgala) July 23, 2019
(Compiled by Gopolang Moloko)
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