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N3 long distance taxi strike brought to a halt
KwaZulu-Natal Transport MEC Siboniso Duma, says that a multi-disciplinary team which includes officials from the SAPS and Metro Police has managed to restore order on the N3.
This after striking members of the Durban Long Distance Association blockaded the route.
The strike which started five days ago is over permits and the impounding of taxis.
“Since this morning, we’ve been here since seven o’clock, but there was a disturbance from the taxis. The Durban log in particular, that is trying to blockade the road. We’ve got a joint operation which is composed of SAPS, Shanela, and Metro- so we’ve managed to ensure that we take them out but I think that process is ongoing.
It’s a routine thing, almost every December – there are those who don’t want to adhere to the rules of the law, do not have permits, they don’t want to comply. Even right now, we’ve just stopped a taxi coming from Hammersdale, that does not have a permit. We just had to take off all the passengers for their safety-because otherwise, they’ll be compromised if there’ll be an accident.
[WATCH] MEC for Transport, Siboniso Duma, says they have started engaging with taxi owners in order to find an amicable solution to the ongoing taxi strike. He says by Friday everything will be back to normal. pic.twitter.com/9h2SskcTbH
— SABC News (@SABCNews) December 3, 2024
Meanwhile, KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi says the officers will hunt down striking taxi drivers that are breaking the law and violating with the rights of other road users.
Mkhwanazi says that while the police respected the rights of the taxi drivers to strike, no one is allowed to break the law.
“Anyone has got a right to strike, the only thing that’s not allowed is for one to interfere with the rights of other individuals who are not part of this strike. So, those that are participating in the strike especially in the taxi industry, they should do that within the law and not interrupt other people.”
“Whilst they interrupt other road users, they’re no longer exercising their rights, but they are then committing crime. So, that’s why we are currently on a hunt, we’re on a hunt for the owners of those taxis that have been blocking the roads. We’re on a hunt for those people that have been blocking the trucks, and taking the keys out of the trucks, and we’re going to find them, we’re going to set a good example,” he adds.
