Johannesburg – Santaco has confirmed that it has called off the ongoing taxi strike.
In a statement it said that they were currently in negotiations with South African Taxi Finance Company.
Earlier major highways between Joburg and Tshwane were in chaos as the taxi strike intensified.
Thousands of commuters across Gauteng including Tshwane, Soweto were left stranded and unable to get to work as the routes were blocked.
Since about 2 am, several main highways including the N1 in Midrand, Allandale and Olifantsfontein were blocked.
However, as the morning wore on the N1 at Allandale and in Midrand were reopened as the strike came to an end.
Several trucks were hijacked by taxi drivers to block off these areas of the highways.
There were also go-slows on parts of the M1 North in Woodseats, the N3, M2 East, Golden Highway and N12.
According to Santaco, the strike was caused because monthly instalments on the Toyota Quantum’s it uses are simply unaffordable.
“We are going to hand over a memorandum of grievances to the Directors of the South African Taxi Finance Company offices in Midrand.
“Some members of the taxi industry has been hard hit by high interest rate of 28% and blacklisting due to payment of R15 000 per month over 72 months. We can't take it anymore,” it said in a statement .
Santaco and striking taxi drivers are going to Emperor's Palace for meetings and discussions.
Some motorists tweeted that the taxi strike was moving towards the airport and Kempton Park despite it being called off.
#TaxiStrike OR Thambo International pic.twitter.com/jLDbRKolG1
— Andile Nhlumayo (@andy_nhlums) June 15, 2017
Media Release: Traffic flowing smoothly in Tshwane following mass protest action by the taxi industry pic.twitter.com/Rbc1DIsFxj
— Solly Msimanga (@SollyMsimanga) June 15, 2017
JHB - #TaxiProtest: RT @Phumzaizo R21 South, taxis entering O.R Tambo Int Airport upper roadway international departures @TrafficSA pic.twitter.com/HLr6jSoKbV
— TrafficSA (@TrafficSA) June 15, 2017
There were still several pockets of striking taxis along the N1 which started to clear.Concerns were also mounting about how the hijacked trucks would be moved off the N1.
There also several reports of violence and intimidation by the taxi drivers.
Gauteng MEC for Community Safety, Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane, condemned the violence, intimidation and lawlessness following protest action by Santaco.
"The strike has led to service delivery disruptions as most workers were unable to go to their respective areas of work and learners were denied an opportunity to write their exams as many roads were blocked.
"The protesters went on a rampage blocking roads and illegally confiscate truck operators’ keys and the truck operators were left stranded," Nkosi-Malobane said.
“I am deeply disappointed in the manner in which Santaco members conducted themselves during protest action this morning.
#TaxiStrike @GP_CommSafety MEC Comrade @NkosiMalobane says she is "disappointed in the actions of SANTACO" pic.twitter.com/8DTu9gMuhP
— Gauteng ANC (@GautengANC) June 15, 2017
It is a constitutional right for community members to engage in a peaceful protest but violent action and intimidation of non-striking members of communities cannot be condoned," she said.
Nkosi-Malobane emphasised that the strike has had negative impact on our economy since Gauteng is the economic hub of our country.
"In future, we will reconsider granting them permission to engage in protest action," she said.
Nkosi-Malobane added that law enforcement were at the scenes dealing with the situation.
Gauteng Health also called on those drivers still striking to please allow emergency vehicles though the main highways without intimidation.
@Lanc_02