By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The strike by members of the Durban Long-Distance Taxi Association over operating permits, and impounding of unroadworthy taxis enters third day.
The members of the Taxi Association blocked roads going in and out of N3.
Metro police were hands on to clear vehicles that blocked the N2 and N3 at EB Cloete, the N3 exit out of Durban and the M41 near Umhlanga.
“The protesters have blocked the N3 outgoing, causing significant traffic disruptions. Our officers are working to resolve the situation and restore traffic flow as quickly as possible,” a police spokesperson said.
Drivers claim the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport is delaying the issuing of the permits.
However the Department of Transport spokesperson, Ndabezinhle Sibiya says more than four thousand permits are waiting to be collected by taxi operators.
“We think there must be something else other than the issues that have been raised around permits and Operation Shanela. Operation Shanela was established years ago to ensure that honest taxi owners are protected,” Sibiya said.
Sibiya said that MEC of Transport Siboniso Duma had met with the operators and committed to addressing the issues.
“There was a team that was established comprising members of the association, as well as officials for the department of transport in the province. That team was given a mandate to deal with the issues that had been raised,” he added.
Bhekisa Nzuza from the Durban Station Taxi Association said operators were upset with the harassment by Shanela transport enforcement operators.
“At a meeting held last Tuesday, it was resolved that taxi operators must down tools until the government meets with the operators and addresses their concerns,” said Nzuza.
He urged travellers to plan journeys carefully to avoid being stranded as disruptions would continue.
Many vehicles have been impounded because they do not have permits to operate on the roads, yet it is the government that promised to issue those permits,” he said.
Nzuza added that the government blacklisted some operators whose vehicles were impounded. He said operators who get their cars impounded receive an X next to their name, meaning they cannot renew licenses for their other vehicles.