Commuters free to choose their mode of transport, says Gauteng transport MEC
Taxi operators in Ekurhuleni went on strike without any prior notice earlier this week, forcing commuters in the area to find alternative transportation.
An empty Germiston Taxi Rank during a strike by taxi operators in Ekurhuleni on 7 May 2024.
JOHANNESBURG - Gauteng Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela says South Africans do not owe the taxi industry anything, and that commuters have the right to choose their mode of transport.
Diale-Tlabela was responding to some of the grievances raised by taxi operators in Ekurhuleni a day after they went on strike.
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Hundreds of commuters were forced to find alternative ways to get to their destinations earlier this week when drivers stopped operations without prior notice.
The strike centred around a bus contract awarded to a company that was operating in the area.
Taxi owners were demanding a 30% share from the company's profits.
Diale-Tlabela said the bus operator was not permitted to be operating in the disputed route.
“That's why the taxi associations in Ekurhuleni were upset, and that’s a matter we addressed last night. We will continue this afternoon with the bus operator themselves.”
On Thursday night, the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) said that an agreement was reached between the parties, and that taxis would be running again from Friday.
CONDOLENCES TO STRIKE ACTION VICTIMS
Diale-Tlabela offered her condolences to the loved ones of two people who were shot and killed in Germiston during the strike on Thursday morning.
The MEC said according to the taxi associations, the deaths of the two people were not related to the strike, but investigations were ongoing.
“Our suspicion and the reason we went on the ground was the killings are related to the strike. In our engagements yesterday, when we engaged the associations, they said to us it’s not related. But I've requested the law enforcement agencies to go on the ground and really get us information.”
In the meantime, Diale-Tlabela offered her condolences to their families.
"We’re really saddened as provincial government by what transpired."