Mams taxi drivers abandon shifts
Some Mamelodi Amalgamated Taxi Association plying the Menlyn route abandoned their shifts in protest on Tuesday.
Business came to a standstill at the Denneboom railway station in Mamelodi on Tuesday morning as taxi drivers tried to barricade the exit.
The troublemakers, all members of the Mamelodi Amalgamated Taxi Association, earlier abandoned their shifts.
One of the taxi drivers, Sipho Mahlangu, said they were rebelling against the conduct of taxi owners playing the Mamelodi to Menlyn route.
“There is unfairness at the rank. We wake up very early in the morning in order to hold the line in time to carry as many peak hours passengers as possible,” he said.
“But what happens? We find that there are some drivers who jump the line and are given first preference in loading passengers.”
Mahlangu said the disgruntled drivers would not resume working until their grievances had been dealt with to their satisfaction.
Another driver, who asked not to be named, said drivers would strike during the day but would make sure passengers were taken care of on their way to and from work.
“Our demands are simple. Let there be fairness for all members of the association,” he said.
“While we will ensure that our customers get from home to work and back as normal, we will continue to sit in and engage with the association’s managers until they heed our demands.”
The protest was fairly peaceful and no police were present at the rank.
Some taxis belonging to the association’s members were parked in the middle of Tsamaya Avenue but were not obstructing traffic.
Another driver said the strike began on Monday and would continue for as long as it took management to resolve the grievances.
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