Angry taxi operators take to the streets demanding tarred roads
THE Bhekisiswe Taxi Association operating in Nkandla, has threatened to intensify its protest strike if MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Peggy Nkonyeni fails to meet their demands.
‘This is not a threat, it is a fact. We have been neglected for too long,’ said association secretary, Sabelo Basi on Monday after meeting with Nkonyeni.
On Monday, scores of taxi operators, including taxi bosses, blockaded various roads with burning tyres and logs, demanding tarred roads.
‘Our demands are clear. We want the department to tar the P16, P90 and
P707 roads,' Basi said.
'We only have gravel roads in our area. They promised to upgrade our roads several years ago, but nothing has happened.
'We are glad that Nkonyeni met with us, and she promised to respond by 1 June.
‘We have been patient, but the Department of Transport has neglected us for too long.
'The former KZN premier, Willies Mchunu is aware of our plight.
'What makes matters worse is that, while he was the MEC for Transport, he visited our area and conducted a sod turning, but the project has obviously been abandoned.
‘In 2017, former MEC Mxolisi
Kaunda also came to our area and promised to tar our roads, but up until today there has been no progress,’ said Basi.
‘We use these bumpy roads daily, and they damage our vehicles and cause accidents.
‘We are not the only affected party here. Lack of proper roads also hamper development.
'We have lost an investor who proposed to build a shopping mall near the KwaDolwane taxi rank. All the paperwork has been done, but the construction is on hold owing to the poor state of our roads.'
No comment was received from department spokesperson, Kwanele Ncalane.