Civic organisation Sanco in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape is on Wednesday expected to lead a peaceful march against the closure of a number of taxi ranks in the area.
Two months ago, Police Minister Bheki Cele shut down nine taxi ranks, leaving only two open.
This followed taxi violence in which 60 people were killed over a period of 18 months.
Sanco chairperson in the King Sabatha Dalindyebo (KSD) region, Zama Siziba says the ranks are untidy, congested and inconvenient to commuters, especially the disabled.
Commuters say the closure of the nine ranks last month has led to chaos in Mthatha.
They say they are unsafe, especially in the evenings, as they have to travel long distances to reach the only rank that is open for local taxis. The other taxi rank caters for long distance taxis.
The two ranks that have been operating are located on one side of the town… as a result commuters resort to hitch-hiking than travelling to the ranks.
This is causing congestion on the R61 and N2 roads.
On Tuesday Eastern Cape Transport MEC Weziwe Tikana announced that a third rank has been opened.
Thousands of locals are expected to take part in the march and hand over a petition to the KSD municipality.
