Taxi ‘shutdown operation’ leaves residents stranded
Vryheid SAPS was also called out during the course of the morning, as tyres were set alight and used to barricade the Hlobane road near Bhekuzulu, Old Location.
Burning tyres at the main entry points to Vryheid, and vehicles blocking the roads on Friday had many residents concerned about what was perceived as a taxi strike.
To members of the Vryheid Scholar Transport Association and the Vryheid Taxi Owners Association, it was a massive shutdown operation.
The operation, which is said to have targeted minibus taxis which are not officially registered with the transport group, saw children being offloaded from taxis and some even being sent back home.
“My child did not go to school today because the taxi she travels with to school was stopped on the way. Their malume was told he did not have a permit for transporting the children and so they were all told to get off the taxi,” said a Bhekuzulu resident, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of her child being victimised.
Another concerned Vryheid resident, who is also a member of a local security organisation, exclaimed, “It’s absolutely ridiculous. They are pulling children out of vehicles. If you want to protest, then protest, but don’t involve the children. They are innocent. This is certainly not on.”
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Residents were also affected by the shutdown, with many having to walk to work due to taxis not operating. In response to residents’ concerns, queue marshall, Velaphi Buthelezi said the operation was standard procedure and all relevant departments had been alerted.
“The operation was done as a means to rid our roads of unregistered taxis which have been operating in Vryheid. The safety of the community is very important to us and this is why this operation is taking place,” he said.
Vryheid SAPS was also called out during the course of the morning, as tyres were set alight and used to barricade the Hlobane road near Bhekuzulu, Old Location.
Eventually the riot squad from Ulundi was dispatched to the area to restore calm.
A meeting was later called between the taxi owners and the authorities, where an amicable agreement was reached, and by midday calm had been restored and taxis services resumed normal operations.
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Also read: Police arrest suspected hitmen, saving Vryheid taxi owner’s life
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