TAXI STRIKE to continue on Tuesday and possibly beyond

The taxi strike, or stayaway, on the South Coast will continue tomorrow (Tuesday) and possibly for longer.

This comes after the KZN MEC for Transport, Siboniso Duma, did not arrive at a taxi owners’ meeting held at Marburg Sports Ground today.

Numerous local taxi owners arrived at the sports ground this morning, hoping the minister would arrive to hear their grievances around issues relating to Operation Shanela.

The latest news is that another meeting has been planned for tomorrow, same place, same time.

However, if the matters are not addressed tomorrow, then things will most likely escalate – ie, roads will be blocked.

Martin Ngcungama, the PRO for the Bambanani Taxi Association, confirmed that taxis would stay away tomorrow (Tuesday).

“Scholar transport, buses and taxis will still not operate and there is a chance that the roads will be blocked,” he said.

There is no issue with private vehicles being on the roads.

Department of Transport (DoT) spokesman, Ndabezinhle Sibiya, said a meeting with the taxi industry had been scheduled for August.

He said the MEC was aware of the situation in Ugu and has assigned officials to attend to engage with the operators.

But sending officials may not be enough.

Taxi boss, Aaron Lubanyana, said local owners want Duma himself to come down tomorrow or ‘they will shut down the whole of the Ugu region’.

The Ugu region stretches from Harding to Umzinto.

Permit problems have become burning issues for the taxi owners.

The owners want the DoT to take them seriously and to take accountability for the actions of Operation Shanela.

One of the bones of contention revolves around the permits.

“The department should be giving us permits, but these are not being issued. Then we have our taxis impounded. How is it that they cannot do their job properly but then make us suffer?”

Owners then have to spend what they described as ‘too much money’ for storage, as well as a large fine, to get their taxis back – and that this is happening almost every week.

Lubanyana said that Operation Shanela was created to make peace in areas where there is taxi violence.

“We haven’t been fighting, so why do they keep coming back here? What is it that keeps them coming back here?”

Meanwhile, it’s the community that suffers, and especially those who cannot get to work.

Comments on the Herald’s social media platforms have show just how much unhappiness there is over these issues.

Many folk have expressed how upset they are that they cannot get to work. They will not be paid for days of absence.

Parents of school-going children have experienced anxiety over whether or not to send their children to school.

They don’t want the children to fall behind in their education, but also want them to be safe.

Some businesses in the Port Shepstone CBD did not open and those that did closed early.

In the meantime, it will be wait and see and hope for the best possible outcome.

Read ORIGINAL STORY here.

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