Taxi strike brings Eastern Cape ‘to a halt’

Bus service also cancelled amid fears of violence 

Taxi strike in full swing. Residents are burning in Langa (Uitenhage), preventing any vehicles from fetching workers.

— HeraldLIVE (@HeraldPE)

 A SHUTDOWN of transport services in Nelson Mandela Bay, as well as the rest of the Eastern Cape, due to a taxi strike caused widespread disruptions this morning, affecting commuters, businesses and schoolchildren.

Early on Friday morning it was announced that exams have been postponed at Victoria Park (VP) High School and at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU).  There was also protest action in Langa (Uitenhage) where motorists were being prevented from fetching workers.

Protest action was also reported in Kuyga and Greenbushes.

One woman who commutes between Uitenhage and Port Elizabeth where she works in the CBD said the roads to Port Elizabeth were blocked and “people were getting quite anxious and argumentative”.

“We only got through because [my husband] flashed his [police] badge. Taxi bosses told us to take the freeway but I’m not sure how you’re supposed to get there,” she said.

The Daily Dispatch reported on Twitter that Oxford Street in East London was burning. “More police have arrived on the scene in Oxford street and helping clear the road‚” said one tweet.

“Police vehicles are seen monitoring the situation. Not even a single taxi at Highway Taxi Rank #TaxiStrike‚” said another tweet.

Meanwhile traffic on the N2 from the Western suburbs onto the Settlers Freeway seemed to be unaffected. The Norwich taxi rank in Strand Street was empty.

Not a single taxi in sight at terminus in Govan Mbeki. Like a ghost town down here. Reports

— HeraldLIVE (@HeraldPE)

The strike, announced by taxi associations yesterday, would continue indefinitely until matters were resolved, taxi bosses said.

The irate operators are descending on Bhisho to protest against the provinces’ failure to issue them with operating permits for the past year.

The strike will also affect bus commuters, with the Algoa Bus Company announcing last night that it would suspend its operations today to ensure the safety of its employees, assets and passengers.

Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber chief executive Kevin Hustler said the strike was a big concern for businesses, workers and especially for children writing exams.

“It will have a negative impact and we [ask] the parties involved to table their grievances and restore normality on our roads as soon as possible,” he said.

Education Department spokesman Malibongwe Mtima said: “We have sent a circular to all school principals to first make a determination and postpone examinations for another day.

“For those who use [taxi] scholar transport, they must assess the situation. [We want] to avoid exposing the ... children to any danger.”

Police spokeswoman Colonel Priscilla Naidu said public order police would be deployed to monitor the situation.

Taxi operators said yesterday they would travel to Bhisho to hand over a memorandum to premier Phumulo Masualle after several failed attempts to acquire operating permits from the provincial Department of Transport.

Taxi associations claim they have been operating without permits for the past year and have had their vehicles impounded because Transport MEC Weziwe Tikana refuses to grant them.

Taxi operators have apologised to commuters for disruptions, but insist they have no alternative.

Algoa Bus Company chief executive Sicelo Duze said the buses would not run for today only.

“This is a responsible decision for the safety of our passengers, employees and our assets. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience,” he said.

At a media briefing yesterday, SA National Taxi Council (Santaco) regional chairman Mbewana Matomane said taxi operators would march in Bhisho because they were dissatisfied.