Durban — The members of the Long Distance Taxi Association blocked roads going in and out of N3 as they looked to address grievances regarding permits and licenses.
The drivers blockaded roads in and out of Durban causing major congestion as the strike now enters its third day. Metro police were on hand to clear vehicles that blocked the N2 and N3 at EB Cloete, the N3 exit out of Durban and the M41 near Umhlanga, TimesLIVE reported.
“We are addressing a long-distance taxi strike in the Durban CBD. The protesters have blocked the N3 outgoing, causing significant traffic disruptions. Our officers are working to resolve the situation and restore traffic flow as quickly as possible,” a police spokesperson said.
According to ECR, the drivers are unhappy about Operation Shanela, which impounds unroadworthy taxis and those that are operating illegally. Transport spokesperson, Ndabezinhle Sibiya says more than four thousand permits are waiting to be collected by taxi operators.
“We think there must be something else other than the issues that have been raised around permits and Operation Shanela. Operation Shanela was established years ago to ensure that honest taxi owners are protected,” Sibiya said.
The strike by members of the Durban Long-Distance Taxi Association over operating licences enters a third day today. Drivers claim the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport is delaying the issuing of the licences. Newzroom Afrika’s @SilethiweNdlovu has more.
Watch:… pic.twitter.com/Y9eRYNbRWz
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) December 2, 2024
According to The Witness, the strike has also disrupted all travel across KZn, as well as Gauteng, Free State and Mpumalanga. Taxi operators have demanded the release of impounded taxis and warned that the services will remain halted unless Transport MEC, Siboniso Duma intervenes.
Bhekisa Nzuza from the Durban Station Taxi Association said operators were upset with the alleged harassment by Shanela transport enforcement operators.
“At a meeting held last Tuesday, it was resolved that taxi operators must down tools until the government meets with the operators and addresses their concerns,” said Nzuza.
He urged travellers to plan journeys carefully to avoid being stranded as disruptions would continue.
“Many vehicles have been impounded because they do not have permits to operate on the roads, yet it is the government that promised to issue those permits,” he said.
[WATCH] @eThekwiniM Police and Firefighters are trying to extinguish the fire allegedly started by Taxi operators who are on strike, this has caused backed-up traffic on Alice Street used to connect motorists to the CBD. @_NMabaso pic.twitter.com/9w12iNLsxj
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) December 2, 2024
Nzuza added that the government blacklisted some operators whose vehicles were impounded. He said operators who get their cars impounded receive an X next to their name, meaning they cannot renew licenses for their other vehicles.
“That is illegal. You cannot block someone from renewing the discs for vehicles with valid permits because one vehicle does not have a permit,” he said.
He said a car cannot be impounded and should instead be issued with a ticket. He reiterated the operators’ demand for the release of their vehicles.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: X/@ZANewsFlash
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Matthew Petersen
