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A provincial day-long strike in the taxi industry in the Eastern Cape is over - but its come at a massive cost.
Thousands of commuters across the province were left stranded and unable to get to work, while learners were also unable to get to school, prompting the Education Department to appeal to school principals to postpone the writing of today's exams where necessary.
At least 18 people were arrested across the Eastern Cape following a day of general lawlessness, sparked by an organised taxi protest from King Williams Town to Bisho.
The Santaco taxi association had marched on the office of the Premier with a petition, calling for an end to the halting of the issuing of operator permits. Provincial Police spokesperson, Colonel Sibongile Soci, said all 18 suspects would be appearing in various courts soon on charges of arson, public violence and malicious damage to property.
Eastern Cape Transport Department spokesperson Ncedo Kumbaca told AlgoaFM news that Premier Pumulo Musualle had received the petition from Santaco and that all parties involved had agreed to sit around the negotiating table as mature adults. "Some of the issues in their peition have already been addressed. We are now going to sit together so that we can speak with one voice" he said
