Taxi strike hits commuters hard
The only thing stranded commuters could do yesterday was hope they could find alternative transport to get to work on time and avoid the prospect of no work, no pay.
“We have been told to come to work because they [employers] said either you come or you don’t get paid‚” a woman commuter at the Phumulong taxi rank in Atteridgeville said.
“When we use buses, they [taxi drivers] remove us.
“Why are they disrupting us?
“We have lost our salaries for today,” she said.
There were no taxis operating at the rank yesterday morning and the area resembled a ghost town.
Thousands of commuters across Gauteng were left stranded after the SA National Taxi Council (Santaco) embarked on a strike to protest against the R1bn government relief package for the industry.
Santaco said in a letter “we were expecting at least R20‚000 per vehicle” but would receive significantly less out of the package announced by transport minister Fikile Mbalula.
Roads were barricaded and, in one incident, a Tshwane metro bus was hijacked.
The 30-year-old woman‚ the main breadwinner in her family‚ said the loss of income would affect them greatly.
“They said in July there will be a fare increase.
“If they are disrupting us‚ how do they expect us to get more money for the increase when this day will be unpaid because we couldn’t get to work?” she said.
Another commuter‚ Lefa Mlate said his employer had asked‚him to make alternative transport arrangements.
“My boss has been telling me to keep trying to get to work, but there is nothing.
“Even those I know who used private cars were turned back‚” he said.
Thami Sizani‚ a teacher at a school in Randpark Ridge‚ arrived at the Baragwanath taxi rank in Soweto and was told to go back home.