POLOKWANE – “We are going to wait here and stop Leeto la Polokwane buses from moving until Monday if they do not respond to our demands.”
These are the words of the Seshego-Polokwane Taxi Association’s (SPTA) spokesperson Ally Harmer during another blockade of the Leeto la Polokwane bus depot alongside the Flora Park Taxi Association (FPTA).
Commuters using SPTA and FPTA vehicles have been urged to use alternative modes of transport as a result.
The associations are unhappy about the hiring of bus drivers and the use of money by commuters instead of tickets, among other issues.
In July, the associations blocked the entrance to the bus depot as a result of the Polokwane Municipality’s failure to hold their end of a bargain endeared into a memorandum of agreement signed in 2017.
Read more: Blockade leaves Leeto la Polokwane commuters stranded
Both parties had agreed that over 90 taxis would be taken off their routes with their drivers trained to drive Leeto La Polokwane buses, while being paid by the municipality.
Hammer says they recently had a meeting detailing their demands to the municipality and have not received feedback since then.
“This is our last resort as they do not respond to our calls and even switch them off,” he said.
Read more: Leeto la Polokwane: Taxi associations and Polokwane Muni at loggerheads
A meeting is currently underway between all stakeholders.
Meanwhile, Leeto la Polokwane spokesperson Rebotile Malakalaka said the municiaplity has deployed law enforcement to the area to deal with the situation.
“Further communication will be forwarded once the situation has eased,” she said.
