Protests may leave many stranded

Passengers urged to use other means

TAXI commuters are being warned to brace themselves as the operators are expected to down keys today in both Pretoria and Johannesburg.

An estimated 10 000 taxi operators were expected to march to the offices of the SA Taxi Finance offices in Midrand.

The protest action was scheduled to start at 5am and could go on until noon.

TaxiChoice chief operating officer Thulani Qwabe and president of the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) Philip Taaibosch confirmed the protest would go ahead, after earlier conflicting reports indicated that it had been postponed.

“There will be minimal availability of taxis in the province and commuters are encouraged to use alternative transport,” said Qwabe.

“We beg our commuters to bear with us. This has taken us by surprise.

“We understand there are frustrations passengers are experiencing but we are trying to have this matter resolved as soon as possible,” added Qwabe.

Tshwane metro police officers and the SAPS would oversee the protest, which was ex- pected to end by about midday.

“Taxis should be readily available from the afternoon and everything should return to normal,” said Qwabe.

The protest is targeted at six entities, including vehicle financier WesBank, Nissan South Africa head office and its manufacturing plant in Rosslyn in Pretoria, Old Mutual, Motor Finance Corporation/ Nedbank and the SA Petroleum Industry Association.

Taxi operators said vehicle manufacturers, particularly Toyota, were to blame for the violence in the industry and stated that high prices were the cause of fighting over lucrative routes.

Taxi operators said they felt totally excluded from the industry’s value chain.

“The complaints are largely around the pricing of the Toyota vehicle which is now at about R400 000; previously it was at R129 000,” said taxi driver Samuel Khumalo.

Interest

The operators said some members of the taxi industry had been hard hit by a high interest rate of 28%, and blacklisted because (of battling to pay) R15 000 per month instalments over 72 months.

The protest action commenced last month with a blockade of the Toyota South Africa manufacturing plant in Prospecton, Durban, bringing production to a halt.

Taxi operators said the banks were “playing along and charging the industry (interest rates) 18% above the prime rate” while insurance companies were “also ripping us off”, Khumalo said.

Dozens of commuters were left stranded by last month’s blockade.

National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa director Nico Vermeulen said any rolling mass action would have a negative impact on the cities and regions where it took place. He stressed there were alternatives to the mass action.

Vermeulen said the taxi industry should sit down with the fuel, insurance and automotive companies and explore the possibility of “a win-win situation” for all.

Frustrated Gauteng commuters took to social media to express their dismay. Phumzile Nkabinde said: “The poor school kids that are writing exams can’t get to school.”

Andrew Levy wrote: “It’s time to buy our own cars,” while Mornay van der Hof stated: “The one time I’m granted a job interview, there are no taxis.”

Tshwane metro police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Isaac Mahamba warned routes such as Mabopane highway, R21, N1 and N4 could be affected.