Durban taxi operators have threatened a two-day stay-away after talks with the municipality collapsed this week, leaving thousands of commuters in limbo.
Chairperson of the regional taxi associations, Mathula Mkhize, said operators had been trying to engage the city for the past two weeks without success. “We are not calling it a strike. We are not calling it a stay-away. There are just no taxis,” Mkhize explained. “If we say we are striking, then who are we striking against, because no government leaders are giving us an ear.”
The associations are protesting against the recent impounding of about 30 minibuses. Last week alone, Metro Police impounded 25 taxis in Clermont for operating without valid permits. The operation also extended to KwaDabeka, following violent clashes linked to a turf war with e-hailing drivers.
Mkhize stressed that operators are not against enforcement but want clarity on regulations. “Some cars, taxis, and drivers deserve impounding. But this impounding is not in the rule book. Enforcement must be within one handbook, one manual, that we all understand, because right now it feels like we’re reading it differently.”
The deadlock between taxi associations and the municipality stems from the city’s refusal to allow taxis to run on routes where they do not hold permits.
Watch: Taxi protest disrupts traffic in Durban CBD
Metro Police spokesperson Boysie Zungu said the law would be enforced strictly. “We will not allow taxis to operate without permits in the city,” he said. He added that while a meeting with the taxi association had been scheduled for Tuesday, it never materialised.
“We are waiting for them to come back to us,” Zungu said. “We are assisting operators who have receipts for permit renewals, as well as those applying for new registrations that affect their permit allocations.”
By Wednesday afternoon, no official word had been given on when the stay-away would begin, but operators insisted they were prepared to park their vehicles for 48 hours if the municipality failed to respond.
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