Taxis back on the roads after morning strike

TAXIS are back on the roads after a strike earlier this morning.–
Commuters including school children were left stranded at various taxi ranks around Pinetown and Durban as taxis went on strike without any notice.–
Shops and banks were also affected as some of the workers did not make it to work.–
One of the commuters, Zandile Mfeka, said she was surprised to see crowds of people at the taxi rank with not even one taxi in the vicinity.–
“I have been standing here since 6am, it 8am now and there is nothing,” she said.–
People had to go back to their homes and others walked to work.–
Mfeka said what the taxis are doing is not fair to them as commuters.–
“We were not even given notice, we do not understand what the strike is about. Children are also missing lessons because of this,” she said.–
There were also reports of violence as other taxi drivers who worked this morning were assaulted and robbed.–
Jabulani Mazibuko, PRO of the KZN Taxi Association said this is the only way to get the municipality’s attention.–
“We wants to be informed about this Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) which we were not informed about.–
“Taxi owners needs to know how this BRT will affect the taxis,” he said.–
Mazibuko added that they want the municipality to show them the documents that they claim that was signed by taxi owners.–
“We need to know who signed on our behalf,” said Mazibuko.–
After the meeting at Lahee Park with eThekwini Mayor, James Nxumalo, the taxis were instructed to get back to work.–
Mazibuko said they have been promised that they will get the documents tomorrow.–
He also denied that drivers were involved in any act of violence.–
“When there are strikes like this, criminals get a chance to rob people,” said Mazibuko.