POLOKWANE – Public transport commuters in Seshego and surrounding areas were left stranded this morning due to a lack of transport, as taxi operators join the EFF’s march today calling for the improvement of basic services from the provincial government.

Commuters desperate to make it to work on time either hitchhiked or walked, while others who did not succeed returned home. Others planned to join the strike.

In Ext 71, four taxis intercepted a Great North Transport bus ferrying commuters and the operators instructed the passengers to get off as no activities other than the march are expected, they said.

The Seshego Polokwane Taxi Association (SPTA) said they will ferry protesters from the Seshego Circle Centre to the SABC Park in Polokwane for a briefing before marching to the Office of the Premier.

The EFF says inadequate water supply is at the top of their grievances, adding that residents are supplied with unsafe water during water shortages in large portions of the Polokwane Municipality.

Other issues on the EFF march invitation include high electricity bills and costs, non-issuing of taxi permits, high unemployment and alleged “Leeto La Polokwane shenanigans.”

The South African National Council of Churches and South African National Taxi Council are said to join the march.

SPTA’s spokesperson Ally Mothiba told the Polokwane Review-Observer that the march is also a call for justice for three elderly women from Seshego whose houses were allegedly attached after they could not pay for high municipal bills.

A permit to proceed with demonstration was granted on Monday, he mentioned.

“Unlike the previous demonstration, their association has since joined the community as they are also directly affected by most of the matters, especially around municipal services. Efforts to provide an opportunity for the municipality to fix the issue have not been successful, hence the matter is being escalated to the premier’s office,” he explained.