The taxi operators of four local taxi associations, namely KaBokweni Taxi Association, Umjindi Barberton Taxi Association, White Hazy Taxi Association and Ngodwana Taxi Association, blockaded the entrance to the City of Mbombela (CoM) Civic Centre in a protest action today, October 9.

The civic centre is currently closed and cannot be accessed by employees or customers.

According to Vusi Mdluli of the KaBokweni Taxi Association, who spoke on behalf of all the associations, they want an additional taxi rank in Mbombela, and insist that the executive mayor, Sibongile Makushe-Mazibuko, address their grievances.

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Mdluli said the grievances include establishing clear indications of rules and regulations at the current taxi rank, to aid engagements with other local taxi associations to trade fairly, and to ultimately have an additional taxi rank established in Mbombela. “We feel like a stepchild, and we want to trade fairly.”

The taxi operators and members of the associations said they would wait until they are addressed by the mayor.

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This is a developing story. Lowvelder will update its readers as more information is made available.