The #PetrolMustFall taxi protest has just entered its second day today, Thursday July 7, with taxi operators using their minibus taxis, trucks and even some trees to barricade the main roads leading in and out of some of Mbombela’s townships.

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In KaNyamazane, the protesters used buses belonging to Mpumalanga’s giant public transport company, Buscor, while on the R538 to the KMI Airport, trucks were again used to block it.

The morning started off quietly and without any disturbances, as commuters and motorists found their way to work.

Things took an ugly turn just after 09:00 when some of these major townships’ entrances and exits were again on lockdown, leaving motorists and commuters stranded.

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The KaNyamazane Plaza and Emoyeni Mall remained closed, as these centres feared looting.

In KaNyamazane, protesters threatened to burn Buscor buses if they continued transporting people in and out of the township.

Buscor’s public relations officer, Thomas Lubisi, confirmed that two of their buses had been hijacked and are currently used to block the main road. “Given that it is taking place in the two townships of Nsikazi, namely KaNyamazane and Msogwaba, this is something we never imagined. We only beg the populace not to use violence or risk damaging the buses, which are an essential form of transportation for many in Mpumalanga,” pleaded Lubisi.

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Some of the protesters who spoke to the paper, threatened to continue their demonstration until Government offers a workable solution to what they termed absurdly high fuel prices.

By the time of this being posted, a provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, had confirmed a number of protesters had been arrested and charged with the possession of illegal firearms, assault and public violence.