Daily Dispatch reports that striking Eastern Cape taxi bosses‚ who caused a fear-driven mass stay-away and economic stoppages across the province on Wednesday‚ were given a dressing down by provincial ANC chair Oscar Mabuyane.
In a “friendly warning”‚ he told the 250 singing and dancing taxi operators at Calata House in King William’s Town that their disruptive actions‚ which caused the Mercedez-Benz East London plant to shut its doors for the day‚ could have catastrophic effects on the local economy. Provincial police said 14 people were arrested for public violence‚ attempted murder and damage to essential structures. A handful of taxis were confiscated. Schools closed‚ or parents kept children at home and thousands of workers had no way of getting to work. Traffic on the roads was dramatically down. Mabuyane‚ speaking after accepting the taximen’s memorandum‚ said: “Today’s actions‚ which resulted in MBSA and other businesses being unable to meet their targets and deliver to their clients‚ may have detrimental effects. When MBSA lays off workers and sends them back to Mdantsane three or four years down the line‚ some will forget that it emanated from this protest today.”
- Read this report in full at Timeslive
- Read too, Fourteen taxi drivers arrested after Eastern Cape strike turned violent, at News24
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page