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A provincial taxi strike is causing widespread disruption and frustration on Eastern Cape Roads. Public transport in the province has all-but ground to a halt and thousands of commuters have been left stranded and unable to get to work.
The Algoa FM News team is receiving reports of general lawlessness, accompanying the strike. Tyres are being burnt on main routes and commuters using private transport are apparently being physically dragged out of these vehicles to prevent them going to work. Reports are being received of roads being blocked by taxi drivers and other protesters in a number of areas including Port Elizabeth, East London, King Williams Town, Kirkwood, Aliwal-Noorth and Alice.
There is a list of road closures on the AlgoaFM news twitter and facebook pages which are continually being updated. Earlier, the Santaco taxi association's Siyanda Mbanjwa condemned the closure of roads, saying their intention was always to stay within the law during their march and motor procession from King William's Town to the office of the Premier in Bisho.
Mbanjwa said they would be presenting a petition to government raising concern about the halting of the issuing of operator permits.Prov incial Traffic Deputy Director Charles Reynolds said a co-ordinated effort between the provincial traffic department and the police was in place to assist motorists where ever possible.Port Elizabeth police also made an urgent request to all delivery vehicles to stay out of the township areas in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro.
Spokesperson Alwin Labans says they are pelting vehicles with stones. The warning is until further notice.
Meanwhile listeners and officials communicated with Algoa FM News on road closures and disruptions.Here is the list:
East London-Gonubie Main Road blocked-Mdantsane Road blocked -Golden Highway blocked-Da Gama and Voortrekker blocked-R347-Zwelitsha road (by the trainstation) -Buffallo/Caxton road/Oxford street-Woolwash Road-Scenery Park under the bridge -NU6-Circle blocked-Entrance to Fort Jackson blocked
-Major disruptions and protest action in Beacon Bay area in East London-Fitzpatrick road in Quigney -road on fireN6-Entrance to Queenstown-road set on fire.
Mooiplaas-T-Junction on fire traffic being diverted onto a gravel road
No access from Free State via Aliwal North-Bridge is blockedR58 outside Aliwal North Also Blocked
Uitenhage-Kruisrivier blocked-Kamesh-Van Rooyen towards Love Bird Road blocked-Kwanobuhle-Uitenhage and Rocklands blocked on BOTH sides-
Bridge over Swartkops and Market SquareT-Junction towards Kirkwood BlockedSansouci road-blockedProtesters burning tyres on old Cape Road towards Greenbushes.Also burning tyres in Njoli .
Meanwhile Metrorail informed us that all services will be suspended here is a full statemenet.
Due to the disruption by the TAXI industry Metrorail trains will not be running this afternoon, this is because they have encroached on our rail environment attacking train drivers and damaging rail infrastructure (overhead electrical wires). These operating conditions are not conducive for safe rail operations to both personnel and our commuters.
It is regrettable that these acts of vandalism will inconvenience over 30 000 train commuters who rely on this affordable mode of transport. These assets belong to the community and it is equally their responsibility to ensure that they are well protected. It is irresponsible to destroy such valuable assets. This is pure criminality, and such lawlessness cannot be tolerated. We condemn this behaviour in the strongest possible terms.
There were commuters on these trains at the time of the incidents whose lives were put in danger.
