WATCH: Shots fired, rocks thrown in Bloemfontein taxi strike

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.

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.

(Compiled by Gopolang Moloko)

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