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Taxi commuters march on mayor's office

SOWETO taxi commuters yesterday marched to Johannesburg mayor Parks Tau's office demanding that taxis be allowed to use lanes dedicated to Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.

South African Taxi Passengers Association (Satapa) president Phillip Dhlamini said commuters were always late for work because of high traffic volume. "Our members are being fired from work for being late because of traffic congestion as taxis have to share the road with other vehicles. If you look at peak hours, there is total chaos," he said.

Dhlamini said taxis should be allowed to use all bus lanes during peak hours.

In a memorandum accepted by the assistant director of petitions, Peter Kute, commuters demanded that:

  • taxis be allowed to compete without restrictions with both Putco and Rea Vaya buses;
  • the government subsidise taxi passengers to the tune of 30percent that it gives to train passengers; and
  • taxis should only be inspected at taxi ranks and not on their routes as this makes passengers late.

Stranded commuter Pinky Mbatha said she waited for more than 30 minutes at the Bara taxi rank yesterday because she was unaware of the protest action.

Another commuter, Manku Novuka, said: "I'm working in a corporate environment but use a taxi. My most convenient transport is a taxi because BRT is 30 minutes away from where I live. Truly, it does not only affect the drivers."

Secretary general of the SA Informal Traders, Christina Kedikiloe, said hawkers were also affected negatively by BRT. "They removed our hawkers to make way for the buses and put them on quiet streets where business is slow," she said.

SA National Taxi Council spokesperson Thabisho Molelekwa said they were distancing themselves from the strike as they have already raised some of the issues with the department of transport.

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