MASSIVE TAXI PROTEST by Nwabisa Pondoyi
Knysna Taxi Forum is definitely a force to be reckoned with after pulling off the biggest march this town has ever seen as different parties and community members stood in solidarity and peacefully marched through town – thereby changing the narrative when it comes to marches.
On Monday 11 June they marched from Sanlam in Nekkies to raise their grievances with the Knysna police, magistrate’s court and municipality while chanting songs loaded with subversive messages that either moved the crowd to rise up or break into dance.
Alcohol and violence-free
Before embarking on the march, Knysna Taxi Forum (KTF) secretary Mandla Tyololo addressed the taxi drivers and told them that the march would be alcohol and violence-free, which was indeed the case.
About 180 taxis all lined up followed the hundreds of people who took part in the march.
Public transport was not available in town and as a result, some shops were closed for business and the ones that were open said their staff were able to go to work without using the N2.
Although there was panic in town weeks before the march, it was only disruptive to traffic for half of the day.
Demands for police, prosecutor
Their first stop was at the Knysna police station where Tyololo read the memorandum with their list of demands. Grievances directed at the police and state prosecutor included the withdrawal of reported cases without consulting with the complainants and the granting of bail to the accused in serious cases without the knowledge of the complainants and family members concerned.
Tyololo said the march has proved that the taxi forum and the community are one – “despitepopularbelief”–andthatamarch organised by taxi drivers can be peaceful. He read a list of their demands and stated that their woes involving the police station date as far as 14 years ago.
‘Nothing was going to stop us’
After reading the memorandum he demanded the release of two suspects who were arrested, and added, “They were arrested doing your job and we demand their immediate release.”
Tyololo then said, “On Saturday 9 June, Knysna police raided the taxi rank and searched commuters while carrying their big guns, a scare or even a tactic to provoke a reaction from the taxi drivers.” To this he added, “We were never going to give in, nothing was going to stop us from marching.” Both the police station and court were given 14 days to reply to KTF’s demands and station commander Colonel Atwell Metu and head control prosecutor of Knysna, Johan Engelbrecht signed their confirmation of receipt.
Police would ‘consider demands’
Metu said they as the police would go through the list of their demands and consider them and that, “for cases with case numbers, please provide us with the case numbers so as to speed up the process”.
When the crowd reached the municipality’s building in Clyde Street they were received by mayor Mark Willemse, municipal manager Kem Chetty and ward 10 councillor Peter Myers.
Again, Tyololo read their demands, which included clean and safe public toilets, security at taxi ranks, and the construction of pick-up and drop-off zones. He also mentioned to the crowd that last week they as KTF had to walk out of a meeting with the municipality because they felt the meeting wasn’t getting anywhere. He added that this was after they had been trying to build some kind of a relationship with the municipality, which has had a blatant disregard for all their efforts.
Mayor notes peaceful protest
Tyololo demanded that there be no repercussions for staff members who did not come to work.
Before signing his confirmation of receipt, Willemse acknowledged KTF and members of the community and thanked them for a peaceful march.
“Thank you for adhering to the conditions of the march. The Knysna taxi rank is an important institution in Knysna and I promise to view your demands in serious light… There will be no repercussions for staff members who did not come to work today.”
After leaving the municipality’s offices the taxis transported the crowd back to Sanlam where they gave a vote of thanks to the community for their support.