Community members in Port Shepstone were left stranded on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast after the Ugu Taxi Association decided not to operate. The association’s Deputy Secretary-General, Erik Caluza, claims that the Department of Transport is failing to issue operating licenses timeously. Taxis operators are aggrieved at the provincial Department of Transport, that they claim are not issuing operating licenses on time.
Commuters had to use alternative means of transport to work and town. Caluza says they are prepared to return to work if the department addresses their grievances.
“We need permits … we did apply for permits and we have got receipts, but Shanela keeps on arresting us, whereas we have receipts to prove that we applied for permits. We are paying rank permits and the rank hasn’t been yet finished in NPS. If you can go and see where we are stationed … we are using the garage [filing station] along the roads.
Taxi drivers were also affected by the no work-no pay policy being applied. Drivers Browndash Cele and Mzwandile Ntanzi say the taxis they are driving have been impounded in the past, sometimes more than five times.
“In the taxi industry, no-work-no-pay policy is implemented. Both parties are affected by this Shanela, as the driver is working for his family and if they are not working they will not be able to support their family. The rand is very low and food price is high these days,” says Cele.
“Our bosses have submitted all the documents to the board but they don’t get licenses. Shanela comes from Pietermaritzburg and impound the vehicles. We are here today, but we are losing the income and the passengers are also loosing the money.”
KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport Spokesperson Ndabezinhle Sibiya says an urgent meeting has been called with the Ugu Taxi Association.
“With regards to the protest in Ugu, the MEC would like to emphasise the need for an ongoing engagements with the taxi industry and there is a Taxi Indaba which is planning to take place in a month of August. The MEC appreciates the bold leadership of Santaco as it represents more than 240 associations in the province,” says Sibiya. Members of the association say they will continue with the strike until the department meets their needs.
Source: eNCA
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