Freedom Park taxi drivers go on protest

Chaos erupted in Fredom Park as local taxi drivers went on a peaceful protest over salary increase on May 02.

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One of the taxi drivers who wanted to remain unnamed alleged that the taxi owners as well as the Eldorado Taxi Association demands a profit of R1200 daily from the drivers and for them the amount is absurd considering the number of taxis currently placed on the road.

The driver further alleged that he has been working as a taxi driver for the past 19 years and if they do not meet the required profit by the owners, the money is directly deducted from their weekly salaries.

“We have requested for several meetings with the association but it seems like they do not take our dissatisfaction into consideration and this is why we saw the protest as the only solution for now.

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“But we still hope that the association will come forth to address this matter so that we reach a common ground because at the end of the day we need to work for our families and put bread on the our tables.”

He further stated that they wrote a letter to the Eldorado Taxi Association chairperson, Salim Bosman stating their concerns as well as requesting for a formal meeting. He further alleges that they were promised that the meeting will be held after three weeks but they were never called for it.

“There is a lot of nepotism happening in the associations. Some of us have been in the taxi industry for the longest time but we are still not part of the association.

“Even those who wanted to join the business by purchasing taxis and becoming owners are being refused a route. This means we will remain drivers and struggle to make ends meet until we retire.”

The protest which was initially announced as peaceful ended with violence as rubber bullets were allegedly dispersed to the crowed, resulting to some drivers sustaining minor injuries.

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“Initially they told us to wait outside as they conducted the meeting as the association board and would let us know about the outcomes.

“But we were surprised when a private security company came to monitor the situation, followed by the police shooting at us.

“To make matters, worse we never displayed any signs of violence, disruption or whatsoever, the demonstration was strictly peaceful.

“We really hope that our frustrations will be taken into consideration because at the end of the day we cannot leave out jobs, we have mouths to feed.”

The publication sent an inquiry to the Eldorado Taxi Association chairperson, Salim Bosman and no response was received at the time of going to print.

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