Supplied
The Eastern Cape Transport Department on Monday urged motorists travelling to Mthatha to either delay their travel or avoid the town completely as the exits were blocked by protesting taxi operators.
Department spokesperson, Unathi Binqose, said they “hijacked” trucks and used them to blockade both sides of the N2 as well as the R61.
He said as a result the Mthatha Airport was also closed for the time being.
This weekend the Transport MEC, Xolile Nqata, sounded a warning after several voice notes and videos emerged on social media calling for a complete shutdown of Mthatha, just days before the elections.
The actions of the taxi operators appear to be a response to a crackdown by authorities following an outbreak of violence last week.
Police had confiscated 38 pistols and five rifles from a group of people from members of a taxi organisation who gathered at the Nelson Mandela Hospital in Mthatha.
The guns will be taken for ballistic testing to see if it has been used in any other taxi-related crimes.
This weekend, the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (Natjoints) gave an update on the taxi violence that broke out in Mthatha and Maclear last week.
Deputy National Commissioner of SAPS, Lieutenant-General Tebello Mosikili, said they remain on “high alert” with a strong police presence in the area to “mitigate against any taxi-related” violence in Mthatha.
The action of the industry comes barely a month after warring associations signed a peace accord in East London which now seems to be under threat.
At 9.30 am reports were coming in of massive looting of trucks taking place with the South African National Defence Force now being called in to assist police.
