TAXI WAR FAR FROM UBER

PROTEST: DRIVERS FORCED TO ABANDON VEHICLES AND WALK TO AIRPORT

Metered taxis caused mayhem by blocking Jozi’s highways, protesting against the cheaper service Uber, forcing commuters to abandon their cars. Uber drivers also took to the streets to demand the company ensure their safety.

Those who could not make flights were later accommodated.

The overwhelming response by commuters to yesterday’s early-morning Gauteng Provincial Metered Taxi Council blockade on roads to OR Tambo International Airport was one of anger towards the metered taxi industry as it protested against the e-hailing taxi service, Uber.

People left their vehicles and began walking down the highway in an effort to catch their flights.

South African Airways – which accounts for up to 50% of the traffic at OR Tambo – said yesterday afternoon operations had returned to normal.

On Twitter, metered taxi drivers were lashed for overcharging, rude drivers who didn’t know where to go and old and scrappy vehicles under #TaxiStrike.

“Meter-taxis’ business model needs to change. Entitlement to clients, poor customer service, and techno-phobia is their undoing,” said Thabo Mofokeng.

Thousands of comments went on in similar vein, with the added theme of it being up to commuters where they spent their money.

There was a slight impact on flight operations, albeit shortlived, said SAA’s Tlali Tlali. “A few flights were delayed by up to 15 minutes only. Passengers were accommodated on later flights.”

Airports Company of South Africa noted the impact would be ongoing throughout the day and would affect flights which needed to return to OR Tambo to fetch late passengers.

It recommended people use the Gautrain. But this was jammed with commuters.

Transport industry analyst Paul Browning said the protest had been a long time coming.

“There has been enormous discontent among the metered taxi drivers ever since the arrival of Uber and every now and then, it unfortunately bursts into acts of violence,” said Browning, who suspected that action by coal truckers last week may have set an example for the taxi drivers.

Brown said metered taxis had had the same business model since horse-drawn carriages in the 1860s – standing in one place while people went to them.

Picture: Neil McCartney TREK. One of two men who were due to fly to DR Congo yesterday and had to leave their car, is seen walking to the airport during a protest by metered taxi drivers against the Uber cab app on the R24 near the Barbara Road off-ramp in Edenvale.

STANDSTILL. Metered taxis block the road during an anti-Uber protest on the R24 near the Barbara Road off-ramp. They blocked the highway, causing massive delays. Picture: Neil McCartney