Taxi strike: Avoid volatile areas this afternoon, police advise commuters (video)

In the wake of Wednesday morning’s taxi strike chaos, the Gauteng Traffic Police has advised motorists to avoid the Pretoria CBD when going home during rush hour.

The National Taxi Alliance (NTA) took to the streets to highlight their dissatisfaction over government allegedly not being willing to give the taxi industry more R1.135 billion in relief funds that was initially offered in June.

Taxi operators blocked roads across major roads in the Gauteng province in an effort to hand over a memorandum of grievances to Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula and President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Many commuters were left stranded as they could not go to work, while passengers were seen kicked and forced out of the buses.

The following the roads were affected by the protest earlier on Wednesday, while motorists have been urged to drive with caution.

• R80 Mabopane Freeway, from Transfer Taxi Rank three-way crossing.
• R573 Moloto Road, Cullinan Crossing.
• Soweto Highway, north bound.
• N1 between Buccleuch interchange and Samrand offramp, north bound.
• R21 between Olifantsfontein and Irene offramp, north bound.
• N1 Sefako Makgatho offramp, north bound.

“Motorist have been advised to completely avoid Pretoria CBD as the protesters mainly gathered in the area….all the other roads are currently free-flowing. They [motorists] are advised to use alternatives routes,” Gauteng Traffic Police spokesperson Sello Maremane said.

Meanwhile, Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) spokesperson Xolani Fihla told The Citizen that commuters were still stranded, and taxi ranks including Bara Taxi Rank in Soweto remained empty.

Earlier, the NTA condemned acts of intimidation and obstruction of roads by taxi operators after a motorist was seen being attacked in a video circulating on social media.

“This is not the NTA’s policy, to blockade roads and disturb people from going about their economic activity,” NTA spokesperson Theo Malele said.

The Gauteng Traffic Police also condemned some of the protest action in a statement, with spokesperson Sello Maremane reiterating that traffic police would not “hesitate to act against any form of lawlessness”.

“While we recognise that picketing is a constitutional right of every citizen, obstruction on a public road constitutes a traffic offence and is therefore punishable by law. The Gauteng Traffic Police and various law enforcement agencies will not hesitate to act against any form of lawlessness on our roads,” he said.

Truck drivers are getting fed up now!!! ????‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/4p4KlYqrN9

— Pitso Ratsela (@Pitso_Sb) November 18, 2020

#President
.@CyrilRamaphosa control your people!#SAPS https://t.co/6kzRFOevOS pic.twitter.com/5vaVRL7BpQ

— Dr Loot Gous (@lootgous) November 18, 2020

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