Gauteng #TaxiStrike is on

JOBURG – Commuters left stranded once again as they feel they will continue to be used as pawns whenever the industry has disagreements with government.

June 22, 2020

Andile Dlodlo 1 minute read

Randburg Taxi Rank will be participating in the 22 June #TaxiStrike after the South African National Taxi Council rejected Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula's R1.1 billion relief package for the industry hard-hit by Covid-19 and its rules and regulations. Photo: Andile Dlodlo

Randburg Taxi Rank suspends services as they join in on the Santaco #Taxistrike.

People going to work and school on 22 June were left stranded as the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) embarked on their #Taxistrike. The Gauteng branch of the taxi association halted all services, confirming to commuters that they will not be operating today after rejecting government’s R1.1 billion relief package to alleviate pressure on the industry brought on by Covid-19. Randburg Taxi Rank is one of the affected ranks and members of the public were forced to find alternative means to get to work, school and anywhere else they needed to be. One of the taxi operators at the rank confirmed that a few taxis will be making trips to and from Johannesburg CBD but all other routes will not be operational.

Randburg Taxi Rank on the morning of the Gauteng #TaxiStrike by the provincial branch of the South African National Taxi Council. Photo: Andile Dlodlo

Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula stated that government can only avail R1.1 billion for the industry, translating to about R5 000 for every taxi owner. The minister has acknowledged that it is not enough but it is all government could come up with and avoided making empty promises for the future. The minister warned the taxi associations not to go on the strike as it would have dire consequences for the country, the industry and commuters, who were already feeling the pain of the strike.

Taxis have been entering and exiting Randburg Taxi Rank all morning without any commuters on board as the Gauteng branch of South African National Taxi Council went on strike on 22 June. Photo: Andile Dlodlo

Such a commuter is a clothing store salesperson Priscilla Baloyi who needed to be at work by 9am and was left with very little options at 8am. She expressed, “I have about an hour to get to work and I don’t know what I’ll do. I can’t take Ubers because they are too expensive and I’m not familiar with other means of transport.”
Others questioned why they always have to be used as pawns in battles with government. A stranded Mduduzi Sithole said, “They raise prices, give us horrible services and do not answer to anyone and as soon as they are angry they use to send a message to government.”