Acts of violence and intimidation are being reported in different parts of the Eastern Cape as the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) taxi shutdown continues.
Police have been dispersing people blockading the roads with rubber bullets.
The major urban areas of Port Elizabeth, East London, Uitenhage and King William’s Town are badly affected.
Santaco is blaming a failed relationship between them and the provincial transport department for the protest.
The taxi council wants increased scholar subsidies, among other demands. Santaco provincial Secretary Vusumzi Mbewu says they’ve run out of patience with MEC Oscar Mabuyane and others provincial officials.
“We had to go plead with Mr Mabuyane because our pleas fell on deaf ears at the department of transport. So I cannot say they are willing or unwilling to listen to us because we had to take further steps and go to Mr Mabuyane and plead for his assistance.”
Commuters have been expressing their frustration as the taxi strike across the Eastern Cape takes effect.
National taxi council, Santaco is leading the strike to highlight a range of demands, including higher government subsidies for scholar transport.
The two Metro’s and many towns in the province are affected.
These taxi commuters were left stranded.
“I really feel so bad … we are really scared for our lives. We don’t have any direction now. I’m not happy because I’ve been working the whole night now I have to go home and I don’t know what to do as I don’t even stay here in King. I’m staying in Phakamisa.”
