Possible taxi protest action: All roads are still open
Airport management has advised passengers to allow for delays and longer travelling time to the airport in case roads are blocked
At 6am all major routes in and around OR Tambo International Airport were still open following reports of that meter taxi and Uber taxi drivers would embark on protest action this morning.
Reports of protest action on the N1 north near Allandale Road had been coming in on Twitter. The metro police and police are on the scene.
Law enforcement is also present along the R21.
Management of OR Tambo International Airport issued a statement this morning, saying they were aware of these unconfirmed reports of possible protest action that may disrupt access to and from the airport.
“Airport management has advised passengers to allow for delays and longer travelling time to the airport. The Gauteng Metered Taxi Concerned Operators (GMTCO) yesterday notified the Gautrain Management Agency Head Office that it would be marching to the company’s offices on Thursday morning.
“Airport management understands that some of the protestors will gather in the vicinity of OR Tambo International Airport and other identified venues, and by 9am proceed to the Gautrain Management Agency Head Office in Midrand.
“The GMTCO expects to arrive in Midrand between 10am and 11am in order to hand over a memorandum of demands to the CEO of Gautrain,” airport management said.
Possible routes that are expected to be affected include the R21 Engen One Stop; R21 at Olifantsfontein Road; R21-R24 split; R24 at Barbara Road; N3 at Gillooly’s interchange; Eastgate Mall and East Rand Mall.
“Giving the potential of this taxi operators strike, and as part of our airport operations continency planning, we remain in close contact with metro police authorities and the South African Police Service in order to keep the routes into and out of the airport open.
“Our concern remains the overall safety of all our passengers arriving and departing from the airport,” says Leigh Gunkel-Keuler, spokesperson of OR Tambo International Airport.
“However, protest action of this nature is not entirely predictable and passengers scheduled to depart from the airport on Thursday should make every effort to give themselves more time to get to the airport,” she says.
Airport management also advises passengers travelling on Thursday to follow news updates on the protest action to ensure that they are aware of potential delays. Where possible, passengers heading for the airport should use public transport such as buses and the Gautrain.
