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Taxi drivers and operators gathered in Pretoria to protest a government aid fund. They blocked several roads, causing chaos in the morning. Photo: Felix Dlangamandla / Daily Maverick
The National Taxi Alliance caused chaos on Gauteng’s roads on Wednesday amid accusations that it had been excluded from Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula’s grand plans for the industry. In Tshwane, a bus was hijacked and commuters and tuition students learning test writing were stranded, with reports of bullying and harassment.
Many commuters were delayed or stranded on Wednesday when members of the National Taxi Alliance (NTA) blocked several key arteries in Gauteng and disrupted rival taxi and bus services as they converged on Pretoria CBD to protest against perceived threats to their right to association.
Travelers shared videos on social media of traffic jams in various parts of Johannesburg and Tshwane. Protesters were also shown stopping buses and taxis and forcing travelers to get out of vehicles.
Tshwane bus services suspended all operations Wednesday morning after one of its buses was hijacked with the driver on board. According to News 24, the bus was later located and the driver was unharmed.
Tshwane Mayor Randall Williams said the city had scheduled buses to operate early in the morning, and that the NTA protest would begin at 10 a.m.
“Unfortunately, now the residents of Tshwane have to face the brunt of their actions with the roadblocks,” Williams said.
“I would have expected the subway police to be prepared because they were pre-warned about this. I was quite surprised myself this morning that it seems they weren’t prepared, ”he said, adding that he would question the Tshwane subway police chief about his plan before the protest.
Students who wrote matriculation exams also fell behind. In response, the Gauteng education department said students could be up to an hour late for their exams and could write at another school if it was closer to home.
The Gauteng Traffic Police condemned the acts of obstruction and intimidation of the protesters.
“The protesters wreaked havoc by illegally blocking roads and leaving many workers stranded because they could not go to their respective work areas,” said Seal Maremane, spokesman for the Gauteng Traffic Police.
“The strike has a negative impact on our economy as Gauteng is the economic center of our country. Taxi operators have avenues they can explore to raise concerns rather than resort to intimidation and roadblocks. “
According to media reports, protesters allegedly set fire to a Blue Ribbon truck during their march in Pretoria’s financial district and attempted to loot a truck carrying liquor.
NTA spokesman Theo Malele condemned the reported acts of violence and intimidation and called on the police to act on the perpetrators.
“These incidents have been strongly abhorred,” he said.
Malele said the key reason the NTA was protesting was to protect her right to association. The NTA claims it has been sidelined by Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula during his discussions with the industry on awarding state subsidies and during conversations about providing assistance to Covid-19.
“The government has clearly been favoring Santaco over the NTA,” Malele said, referring to the NTA’s rival, the South African National Taxi Council.
The NTA withdrew from the Mbalula lekgotla taxi, held in late October 2020, claiming that the process sought to “deliver the taxi industry to the highest bidder.”
“The NTA also raised serious concerns about the predetermined results of the lekgotla that seek to entrench Santaco as the supreme leader of the taxi industry and the dangerous intention of giving Santaco statutory powers symptomatic of the referee and player scenario,” Malele said in October.
Associations affiliated with the NTA and Santaco have long been rivals. The lekgotla recognized Santaco as the leading representative of the industry. The NTA claims that the state’s attempts to formalize the industry by offering subsidies favors Santaco affiliates over its members.
Mbalula’s efforts to formalize the taxi industry follow multiple failed government interventions, notably the Taxi Recapitalization Program, but if implemented successfully, it could have huge repercussions on the structure of the industry.
Santaco President Phillip Taaibosch said the NTA signed up to support Santaco as the industry’s leading body during its formation in 2001. “Therefore, we continue to view them as a dissident group.”
While reluctant to comment on the NTA protest, Taaibosch cited the story of how Santaco was chosen to lead the industry and the requirements for Santaco membership: registration with the taxi registry, registration with a taxi association, a taxi operating license and a vehicle. registered in the name of an owner.
The NTA is seen as less formalized than Santaco, and Mbalula’s efforts to restructure the industry are likely to favor its rival.
The NTA also wants the state to disburse funds to the taxi industry from the R1.14 billion Covid-19 relief fund it proposed months ago.
Malele called it a “pittance compared to the amount of money we’ve lost.” He claimed that Santaco had asked to distribute the funds himself. Taaibosch said he had lobbied the state to pay the funds directly to qualified taxi operators.
No funds have been paid yet. Taaibosch said he expects an update from the minister in the next two weeks.
“How am I going to pay for the taxi if I am not working at full capacity?” asked Orie Mahlangu, a taxi driver who had traveled from Mpumalanga to attend Wednesday’s protest.
Taxis were prohibited from operating under Level 5 of the Covid-19 lockdown and allowed to fill vehicles to 70% of capacity under Level 4. The industry protested and threatened to impose high fare increases, and in July they were allowed them to fill vehicles to 100% capacity.
On Wednesday, November 18, drivers complained that they had followed recommended health precautions, such as making sure passengers wear masks, disinfecting the vehicle and partially opening windows, while the state had not provided relief for the loss of income.
“The problem is that the bank is taking our taxis,” said Bronkhorstspruit driver Donald Msiza.
“They promised that they would pay our debt for that period of lockdown … We did what they asked us to do now they must do what they promised to do.” DM
