Taxi strike – the aftermath
The Department of Transport and Community Safety has been given 21 days to respond to the memorandum handed over to them by the United Taxi Associations Front.
After Monday’s taxi strike left thousands of commuters stranded, the Minister of Transport Dipuo Peters has expressed her concern saying that the traffic disruption was unfair on people.
Taxi operators marched to the Department of Transport and Community Safety.
Peters said that while the concerns raised by the United Taxi Associations Front were noted and their right to protest, it should equally be said that disrupting other people’s lives is unfair.
She said the issues raised during this strike are currently being discussed by the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport and the Taxi Industry.
Public relations officer of the Witwatersrand African Taxi Owners Association incorporation with the Johannesburg Taxi Association (WATA/JTA) Phumlani Buthelezi said that though they had sent their memorandum with a list of their concerns, they do not know what the outcome will be.
“We have little faith in our government as we are sometimes ignored by them.
“If our concerns are not met, it is possible that we will have another strike.
“We have given the department 21 days to respond to the memorandum, but if they don’t, we will meet and discuss what further action we will take,” he said.
The Nancefield Dube West Taxi Owner Association public relations officer, Joseph Ngcobo said some of the issues that caused the strike included the issue of the Rea Vaya bus system and the miscommunication by government officials of the amendments relating to the e-toll system.
Other problems are of the registration of permits for taxis that replaced scrap taxis as part of the department of transport’s campaign to ensure safe public transport and being unhappy with its current relationship they have with the government.
“We have no permits for our taxis, when we transferred our old cars to new ones we did not get new permits, law enforcement officers harass our drivers and passengers on our roads which makes us seem unprofessional.
“We also have a problem of our routes being taken away from us and buses being prioritised over us.”
