KZN Taxi Strike: Commuters Stranded! Will the Shutdown End Today?
eThekwini Commuters Face Transport Chaos as Taxi Strike Continues
Commuters in eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal, are facing major disruptions as the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) continues its indefinite shutdown. This action follows the impounding of over two dozen taxis in Clermont for allegedly operating without the necessary permits, sparking frustration and a standoff between taxi operators and city officials.
Santaco is urgently calling for the provincial government to intervene and address their concerns. According to Santaco's provincial spokesperson, Sifiso Shangase, discussions are ongoing, but an amicable solution has yet to be reached. "We are continuing with discussions and hopefully an amicable solution will be found soon. The commuters will be affected on the ground if there are no vehicles operating. How are they going to go to work and indeed, it’s a shutdown of some sort,” Shangase stated.
The KwaZulu-Natal transport department and the eThekwini Taxi Council are scheduled to meet later today in an attempt to resolve the issues and bring an end to the strike. Previous meetings have failed to yield any breakthroughs, leaving commuters scrambling for alternative transportation.
SANTACO Durban West Region chairperson, Mathula Mkhize, highlighted the challenges in obtaining operating licenses as a key point of contention. "There is an issue with operating licenses, government not being able to assist us to be able to access operating licenses..." Mkhize expressed hope that their grievances would be addressed and the strike could be called off soon.
The situation remains tense, and the impact on eThekwini's economy and daily life is significant. Stay tuned for updates as negotiations continue.
What are the key issues?
- Impounding of taxis operating without permits.
- Difficulties in obtaining operating licenses.
- Call for government intervention.