Fed-up taxis strike
The recent local and provincial government joint traffic operations in George might have ignited a bomb that has been waiting to explode for a very long time. Protesting taxi drivers went on strike on Monday afternoon 13 August leaving thousands of commuters stranded.
This followed after so-called traffic ghost squads were deployed in and around George on Monday morning, following reports of off-route taxi operations. According to the Department of Transport, 74 fines amounting to R154 600 were issued for various infringements and 11 vehicles were suspended. One taxi driver was arrested for driving under the influence.
The traffic blitz angered taxi bosses who had previously raised concerns about similar operations. In March this year, George Herald reported that since midFebruary 40 taxis from Thembalethu had been impounded and many fines issued by provincial and local government. At the time chairman of Uncedo, Welele Mbudede, said that these operations were conducted deliberately to take taxis off the road.
Taxi operators say the recent operations were the final straw.
When taxi bosses suspended all operations on Monday, GO GEORGE also suspended their operations, fearing intimidation. Commuters were forced to arrange alternative transport and some made their way on foot.
On Monday evening, Chantel EdwardsKlose, municipal communications chief, said in a statement, "Due to reports of intimidation by members of the taxi industry against GO GEORGE bus drivers and passengers today, drivers were fearing for their safety and that of their passengers. This resulted in delays and partial service from late afternoon. As a result, GO GEORGE regrets to announce that all services will be suspended with immediate effect until further notice."
The strike
At about 04:00 on Tuesday 14 August, a small group of people started throwing stones and burning tyres at Fourways stop in Thembalethu along Nelson Mandela Boulevard. Their stones were met by rubber bullets and tear gas. By 06:00 more police, traffic officials and local law enforcement personnel were deployed in and around Thembalethu. Taxi services as well as GO GEORGE bus services remained suspended all day.
Uncedo
Speaking to the media at the Thembalethu taxi rank on Tuesday morning, Mbudede said apart from their dissatisfaction with the continued impounding of their taxis, they are also unhappy about the non-renewal of expired permits. They want the application process to be sped up.
"We have decided to strike today, not just Uncedo, but as taxi bosses and operators in George, as the authorities are not taking our demands seriously on the issue of permits. We have new members in the organisation who are still waiting for permits, and some members have been applying for renewals, but the process is very slow. As a result of this our taxis are being impounded on the roads, while we have applied for permits," he said. Mbudede said they want the George Municipality to review the 2009 Council resolution which places a moratorium on the issuing of new permits. They also demanded the release of impounded taxis.
He said it costs about R2 500 to R7 000 to release an impounded taxi.
Captain Dumile Gwavu, Thembalethu police communications officer, said four protesters were arrested and during the evening a traffic vehicle was torched.
Meeting with government
Meanwhile a meeting between stakeholders, taxi bosses and the municipal section 79 GIPTN committee on transport, which was arranged for 11:00 on Tuesday, was delayed for about two hours while municipal officials and provincial government were deliberating on the taxi drivers' requests.
Horns locked when the meeting started at 13:00, with parties continually requesting breaks for caucusing. The meeting was alternatively chaired by Municipal Manager Trevor Botha, Councillor Langa Langa and committee chairperson Bazil Petrus. Local traffic chief Donovan Saptoe explained the process of impoundment, saying they are following the law as instructed in the National Transport Land Act and that the 2009 moratorium on permits has to be reviewed by Council. He further said they are in the process of speeding up the application system.
Taxi bosses rejected this explanation demanding that all impounded taxis be released, and that while the traffic authorities are busy with these adjustments, their taxis without permits must be allowed to operate. It was agreed that five impounded taxis would be released, but due to time restraints not all issues can be resolved immediately. Taxi bosses then demanded that the mayor and high decision makers join the talks, saying they will continue with the strike pending a Wednesday morning meeting.
Wednesday meeting
On Wednesday afternoon Edwards-Klose said a decision had been taken to establish a joint committee consisting of members of the George Municipal Council and the taxi industry within the next seven days to deal with outstanding matters. The Provincial and National Governments will be approached to assist with solutions.
"Municipal Manager Trevor Botha confirmed that the chairperson of the
Section 79 GIPTN Committee, Bazil Petrus, had noted that such a committee should have been established a long time ago as longstanding issues would then have been addressed sooner.
The stakeholders present in the discussions have requested the taxi industry to urgently review the present status of the taxi services to ensure a full resumption of all public transport services within George as soon as possible," said Edwards-Klose.
Following this meeting and its resolution, taxi bosses were to consult their members to decide if the strike would be called off. At the time of going to print late yesterday afternoon the taxi industry was still in consultation.
GO GEORGE resumed a limited service on Wednesday morning.