The United Taxi Association Forum (UTAF) says it will continue with its stayaway until the City of Johannesburg comes up with a Bus Rapid Transit system (BRT) proposal taxi operators agree to.

"If they can look at swallowing their pride and coming to the table. I mean we've been saying that we want to talk, their problem is that they want to talk to us and the steering committee," says UTAF’s Ralph Jones.

Today was a miserable day for thousands of Johannesburg commuters. This after taxi operators began their stayaway over BRT, leaving many commuters stranded. The hardest hit areas were Soweto, Eldorado Park and other areas south of the city. Many crammed onto trains and busses; others simply gave up and went home.

Taxi operators left it till late last night to call the stayaway.  The United Taxi Association Forum called the strike. It feels sidelined in talks about the BRT's roll-out. It's not happy that a feeder service for BRT is due to start from Soweto on Monday. UTAF also says its taxis are being targeted for impounding.

The Mayoral Committee member for transport, Rehana Moosajee says: "We are extremely disappointed that despite the fact that we have kept our doors continuously open for negotiations and ongoing talks that some members of the taxi industry have opted to take the fight to the commuters."

It's not the first time taxi operators have resorted to industrial action over the BRT.