SowetanLIVE reports that thousands of Mamelodi commuters are increasingly getting desperate for transport to work and back home amid a dispute which has seen taximen down tools.
The strike, which affected one taxi rank on Monday, spread to another on Tuesday morning as taxi drivers opposed to alleged preferential treatment afforded to taxis owned by taxi boss Vusi "Khekhe" Mathibela continued with their protest. Mathibela's taxis, which allegedly amount to about 50 and which operate under the Mamelodi Amalgamated Taxi Association (Mata), are apparently allowed to jump queues at taxi ranks where they operate. Two big taxi ranks in the township, one near the BP filling station in Mahube Valley, in the east and another near the Universal Church, which are used by thousands of commuters daily have been affected by the protest. Moreover, trains are also not running due the national Covid-19 lockdown. Hundreds of desperate commuters were seen hitch-hiking to work along main roads. Several striking drivers went to where the taxis owned by Mathibela park overnight, apparently intent on setting them alight. But, a large contingent of police and Tshwane Metro cops apparently prevented them from getting into the property, which is owned by the municipality.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Dimakatso Modipa at SowetanLIVE
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