Long-distance taxi operators in Durban have warned of disruptions to services on Friday amid their dispute with the government over operating permits and the release of impounded taxis.
One of the busiest daily routes between Durban and Pietermaritzburg will be among those affected. The operators have indicated that the protest could extend into next week.
This protest follows closely on another similar protest a few weeks ago, which left scores of long-distance travellers stranded at taxi ranks for hours.
The Mercury also understands that the protest is likely to affect small business traders, who have been informed that they will not be able to operate today while the strike is under-way.
The traders, most likely to be affected are situated next to the Durban station area, where many long-distance taxis are based.
The South African National Taxi Council provincial office stated that it had not been briefed about the pending strike and directed all questions to the Durban office.
Bhekisisa Nzuza, the chairperson of the Disciplinary Committee of long-distance operations in eThekwini, confirmed that the taxis would not operate today.
Nzuza mentioned two primary concerns raised by the taxi operators: the impounding of their vehicles and the blacklisting of taxi operators.
He asserted that Operation Shanela was not being conducted fairly.
“There was a meeting held on Tuesday that resolved that the taxi operators must down tools until the government meets with the operators and addresses their concerns,” Nzuza said.
He warned travellers to plan their journeys carefully to avoid being left stranded, adding that all long-distance routes will be disrupted.
Nzuza explained that their dispute with the government centres on two issues: “Many vehicles have been impounded because they do not have the permits to be on the roads, yet it is the government that has been promising to issue those permits. It had asked the operators to come and collect those permits, but when they did, they were not available, and the vehicles that did not have them were impounded.”
He added that the government has put an X (blacklisted) against those operators whose vehicles have been impounded.
“If they impound your car, they will put an X and you are unable to renew the licence disc of the other cars that you own. That is illegal; you cannot block a person from being able to renew the disc of the other vehicles that have permits because one car does not have a permit.”
“We have said that if a car has committed any infringements, it cannot be impounded; it should be issued a ticket. If someone has broken the law, the provincial commissioner has full authority to search for, find, and arrest those who have committed any wrongdoing,” Nzuza said.
EThekwini Metro Police head Sbonelo Mchunu, urged the taxi operators to comply with the law, even during their strike.
“Our approach is that we will enforce permits as and when we see road traffic disobedience. We will not tolerate any form of intimidation, police impersonation, or any blockages of roads,” he said.
Ndabe Sibiya, spokesperson for the MEC of the Department of Transport, said MEC Sboniso Duma had been contacted by several taxi operators in various associations as far as Gauteng, operating along the Durban-Johannesburg route.
He said these operators informed Duma that they had been made aware of the strike through social media but had distanced themselves from it.
“They indicated to him they believe it is in the interest of the public transport system to have Operation Shanela as they are honest operators complying with the law with the necessary permits.”
“We can confirm there is a team that was instituted at the meeting with the MEC and Durban long taxi association that looked into issues that were raised, including the impounding of taxis and permits. The matter was found to be with the court and within the jurisdiction of the justice department. They were informed that they needed to pay the outstanding amount of money and do that with the magistrate's court,” said Sibiya.