The taxi operators accuse the government of not prioritising them in the scholar transport tender and also want to have access to subsidised routes.
Taxi drivers in the Mpumalanga province are heading to Premier David Mabuza’s office where they will deliver a memorandum of demands.
Their march on Friday from the Mbombela taxi rank is organised by the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) and threatens to shut down the whole city and leave commuters without transport.
Members say they have met government officials many times and no one has taken the concerns they raised seriously.
Mohamed Matola of the council says there is a lot of grievances which they want to place before the Premier’s table.
“Our issues are very old,” he said.
“In the province we have been engaging in conversation with different MEC’s but not even one of the issues we raised have been resolved. So now we want the premier himself to take our demands,” he said.
Among the issues they want government to give tenders to locals.
Their march will start at 7 morning at the Mbombela taxi rank and go to the Riverside government complex.
“It is unfortunate that we have to take this decision at this time of the year where Matric learners are busy writing their examinations, but we have no choice other than putting down tools so that we can submit the list of our long overdue grievances to the office of the Premier,” he said.
(edited by ZK, see ALSO)
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