DURBAN - Msunduzi Municipality met with striking Pietermaritzburg taxi drivers after hundreds of minibus taxis blocked key entry points to the CBD in a protest against the operation of e-hailing taxi services on Tuesday.
Municipality spokesperson Thobeka Mafumbatha said the municipality met with the taxi association to discuss their grievances.
“A follow-up meeting is going to be held with the association and other relevant stakeholders and the department of provincial transport to pave a way forward,” she said.
The Mercury reported earlier on Tuesday that the strike caused morning traffic to grind to a halt with the public not being able to access the CBD.
A Facebook user commented that a friend who works for an e-hailing service was sent home and was not allowed to work while others warned the public to rather stay at home.
A messaged circulated yesterday on social media warning the public that all roads leading into the city centre would be shut down.
The message stated that the reason for the strike was to get answers from Msunduzi Mayor Mzimkhulu Thebolla and the Department of Transport regarding e-hailing drivers operating in the city without permits.
Police spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbele confirmed that some routes had been blocked by taxis.
“Local police are at the scene to monitor and stabilise the situation. We are advising motorists to use alternate routes,” she said on Tuesday morning.
The transportation department did not respond to a request for comment and attempts to get comments from the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) were unsuccessful.
THE MERCURY