DAY 3: Taxi strike takes its toll on commuters, employees and schools
The taxi strike which started in Clermont and KwaDabeka has spread across the city, leaving many people stranded.
A SPECIAL needs school bus was forced to turn back this morning in Hammarsdale as the ongoing taxi strike spread across Durban, causing widespread disruption in multiple communities.
The strike, which began on Tuesday, September 2, in Clermont and KwaDabeka, was triggered by the impounding of 35 taxis by Durban Metro Police last week. A public notice was issued on Wednesday, advising residents to remain at home on Thursday and Friday or arrange alternative transport.
On Thursday morning, many streets across the city were unusually quiet, with few commuters walking to work and the majority of residents staying home without alternative transport.
Mark Denissen, general manager of the KZN Cerebral Palsy Association, said he was concerned after their specially branded school bus was stopped and threatened.
Also read: Taxi strike in Clermont and KwaDabeka enters second day
“Our bus is clearly marked for children with special needs, yet the driver was forced to return home after being threatened. They said they would burn the bus if he didn’t co-operate,” said Denissen.
He said he was puzzled by this incident.
“Our children can’t use normal public transport due to their condition. For these two days, they won’t receive therapy or treatment. This puts a huge strain on parents too, who now have to stay home and miss work.”
Denissen also voiced concern for students in mainstream schools who are currently writing exams.The strike has affected the broader community as the Hillcrest Library was forced to cancel a major event.
“We were supposed to host 11 libraries for our district-wide unplugged coding competition today. Each library was bringing five learners. We’ve been planning this for weeks,” said assistant librarian Nomusa Martini.
“Now the library is empty, and even our staff can’t make it in due to transport issues.”
Also read: Taxi strike leaves commuters and learners stranded
Clermont resident Thabisile Ncenjana, who works as a nanny in Westville, also shared her frustrations.“On Tuesday, I couldn’t go to work. Yesterday my employers arranged a car to get me from Clermont to Westville. This morning they tried again, but couldn’t find one. I think e-hailing drivers are also afraid to operate because of the unrest,” she said.
“This strike is affecting everyone. I need this job, I’m a struggling mother of four.”
eThekwini Municipality Mayor Cyril Xaba convened an urgent meeting with key stakeholders in the taxi industry last night to try and prevent a city-wide taxi shutdown.
The meeting was attended by the leadership of the eThekwini Metro Taxi Council, led by Mathula Mkhize, City Manager Musa Mbhele, senior officials from the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport, and councillors representing Clermont and KwaDabeka.
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According to the City, this meeting forms part of an ongoing series of government-led interventions aimed at resolving long-standing tensions within the taxi sector, particularly in the Clermont and KwaDabeka areas.
“All parties acknowledged the legitimacy of the concerns raised by the taxi industry and committed to swift, collaborative action. Chief among these concerns was the backlog in issuing operating licences. The Municipality, in partnership with the KZN Department of Transport, pledged to expedite the licensing process.”
City and Department of Transport intervenes
Additional matters discussed included the impounding of vehicles operating without valid permits. In response, the Municipality and Department of Transport proposed the following interventions:
– Strengthened law enforcement across all transport service providers
– Police to apply precautionary discretion in enforcement
– Full enforcement measures to apply to seven-seater vehicles operating outside legal parameters
The City said engagements have already commenced with the Clermont/KwaDabeka Taxi Association to facilitate the lawful release of impounded vehicles.
To support the issuing of permits, the Municipality said they will fast-track an economic viability survey.
“This will assess rank capacity and route saturation to determine whether additional permits can be responsibly issued.”
Xaba, with the backing of the KZN Department of Transport, also committed to convening an urgent Indaba with e-hailing operators and the minibus taxi sector to address broader operational challenges. The meeting further resolved to intensify public education campaigns highlighting the risks of using unlicensed public transport.
A joint task team, comprising representatives from the taxi industry, eThekwini Municipality, and the KZN Department of Transport, will be established to oversee the implementation of the resolutions that were adopted in the meeting.
“We remain steadfast in our support for the taxi industry and are committed to implementing the resolutions of this meeting, which I will also convey to Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy,” said Xaba.
In the interest of public safety and service continuity, Xaba and KZN Transport MEC Siboniso Duma have appealed to taxi leadership to suspend the planned strike and resume operations in Clermont and KwaDabeka.
The Municipality said they will continue to engage the taxi industry in pursuit of a sustainable and amicable resolution.
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