Mbombela taxi operators take their war for better roads to the streets
This protest comes just a few months before the national and provincial elections, which are predicted to be the toughest ever since the dawn of democracy. These communities said they were dissatisfied with the government’s lack of service delivery.
Commuters and motorists of communities linking Pienaar to the rest of the City of Mbombela were left stranded this morning, Wednesday January 24, as taxi operators took their fight for better roads to the streets.
These taxi operators, who were soon joined by a number of community members who sympathised with them for having been subjected to drive on poor roads, used their taxis and some Buscor buses to block all entrances and exits leading to and from Pienaar.
The taxi operators said they only had one demand, and that is to get the government to fix the roads.
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Some of these roads include the Lihawu Road leading all the way to Emoyeni Mall, which is practically non-existent, the Gedlembane Road, which is also impossible to drive on, and the Tekwane North Road connecting to the main road at the Mbebe Centre.
“Our grievances are not so much. We just want these roads to be fixed. We are not asking the government to make miracles now and put up a tarred road here. No, all we are asking for is that they must at least come up with a temporary measure so that the roads are driveable. We drive on these roads every day, and because of the bad conditions, we are forced to get our vehicles serviced monthly, and now all the profit goes to buying tyres and brake pads. This is not fair. This government doesn’t take us seriously. They have neglected us simply because they live in town and suburbs where everything is smooth. We are suffering here and they just don’t care,” said a taxi owner.
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He further stressed that this protest was not political as had earlier been rumoured. “This has nothing to do with politics. If this was political, why else would some members of the community, especially road users, join us? We are all here because our cries are genuine, and those in positions of authority know this for a fact. We are not politicians, and so we can never be drawn into politics, we just want these roads fixed.”
They vowed to intensify the protest should nothing be done to fix these roads.
This is not the first time these taxi operators have taken to the streets about this very same issue. Early last year they protested by burning some tyres and barricading these routes, leaving these communities isolated.
