All taxis have been pulled off the streets of Durban this weekend amid warnings that commuters who use buses instead could be in danger.
One of the major casualties of the decision to stop taxis running this weekend will be Saturday’s sell-out match between Orlando Pirates and local Lamontville Golden Arrows at Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Long-distance taxis will also not be allowed to enter the city, taxi driver associations said on Friday night.
The decision was taken by taxi operators after a lengthy meeting with municipal manager Sbu Sithole, Mayor James Nxumalo, Transport MEC Willies Mchunu, senior Metro Police officials and taxi bosses on Friday evening at the eThekwini Transport Authority office in the city centre, to try to resolve the situation.
Dalisu Sangweni, a spokesman for Top Six, an umbrella body of taxi associations from Durban’s central and western areas, said the strike would intensify this weekend.
“There won’t be any taxis operating in Durban this weekend,” he said.
KZN Taxi Alliance chairman Eugene Hadebe advised bus drivers to heed their call to not ferry commuters this weekend.
Municipal spokesman Thabo Mofokeng, however, said municipal buses would be operating, adding that the city would engage with other bus operators to increase the number of buses.
He also reassured bus drivers and commuters that they would not be intimated or assaulted by the striking taxi drivers, saying police numbers and visibility would be beefed up.
Sangweni and Hadebe said the city’s decision to insist on buses operating would perpetuate violence.
“They (municipality) are being stubborn. Their actions show they don’t care about their residents. There will be casualties if buses continue to operate,” said Sangweni.
Hadebe echoed Sangweni’s sentiments. “If buses continue to load passengers then there is no guarantee that taxi drivers won’t stone and burn the buses, injuring or even killing some innocent people.” - Independent on Saturday