The Citizen reports that taxis were cashing in on the absence of buses on the streets of Pretoria on Wednesday as bus operators went on strike.  But in Mamelodi, some motorists complained that they were intimidated by taxi drivers when they wanted to give lifts to stranded commuters.  

One motorist said:  “Why can’t I take a few passengers in my car?  We are intimidated by taxi drivers when we ferry these stranded people.  Is it a crime to help out our fellow community members?”  Other motorists alleged that they had been attacked for giving lifts to colleagues or relatives.  Despite the allegations of intimidation, the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) and the Gauteng Traffic Police said there had been no reports of violence related to the strike by midday.  Gauteng Traffic Police’s Busaphi Nxumalo said nothing had been reported and so far it had been a peaceful strike, but she had heard people reporting on a radio station that they had been stopped by the taxi association squad car and told they did not have permission to convey people for payment.

• Read this report by Jonisayi Maromo in full at The Citizen

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