Taxi Strikes South Africa
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3/16/2010 Day two Johannesburg taxi strike. Turned violent yesterday, several people arrested. Thousands of commuters left stranded and blocked from catching trains. Police escort buses. The Gauteng MEC for transport, Bheki Nkosi has called on institutions such as Metrorail, PUTCO and others to make more trains and private buses available to assist commuters going to work. “We are calling on Metrorail to make available more train coaches, including shuttle trains, on more than regular frequency periods in the South and Western parts of Joburg, especially in the early morning and late evening peak periods.”
4/20/'09 THE Western Cape branch of the National Taxi Association has urged its members to put their strike on hold until after Wednesday’s elections. Strike was planned 4/21. Association will hold press conference later today to urge fellow drivers around the country to halt the strike.
4/16/09 No strike....?
8 April, 2009. Gauteng province, Pretoria and Johannesburg, taxi strike,
April 16, 2009 over the usual Bus Rapid Transport expansion. Travel to Airports maybe difficult, extra traffic on road leave early!
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STRIKE by taxi operators, in Mdantsane and East London, that would have left thousands of commuters without transport, has been called off. Successful meeting between Buffalo City Municipality (BCM) and the city’s taxi industry.
It was going to be the taxi industry turn, meter taxis, mini buses and motor car taxis for Operation Siyavingca which targets public transport systems. Taxi's would be targeted for speeding, over loads, safety issues, making new roads out of the sidewalks! City has agreed to layoff taxi's and struck up a new deal with four taxi companies, called Operation Masibambisane (lets work together). Normal policing will continue.
3/25/09 Warning has been issued to Americans going to South Africa, to be aware of taxi and minibuses.
3/24/09 Johannesburg, thousands of commuters stranded, minivan taxis went on strike. Drivers blocked highways and transport routes. Roads were clogged with extra traffic due to the strike.In some instances officers had fired rubber bullets to disperse taxi drivers blocking feeder routes into the city. Particularly along the M1, M2, M3 and N12. Soweta township reported violence, Putco bus driver was shot in the hand. People reported being threatened and beaten up, rocks were thrown at buses. Some folks were pulled of trains and buses. Putco will continue running.
3/23/09 Johannesburg, a group of taxi drivers "United Johannesburg Taxi Associations Forum" expressed dislike for new Bus Rapid Transit system and have threatened strike next week. Greater Johannesburg Regional Taxi Council has distanced themselves from them.
3/11/09 Cape Town, Integrated Rapid Transport System on going problem with National Taxi Alliance (NTA) resulted in members walking out of meeting with the mayor. Drivers protesting the fact that it can take a year for the government to process an operating permit.
3/3/09 The Western Cape National Taxi Alliance has threatened to strike for a month because of the government's Bus Rapid Transit system plans. Taxi drivers may loose jobs with expansion of Bus Rapid Transit.
16 February, 2009 Monday, Cape Town. No traffic disruptions, taxi's back to work. Buses running as normal. Some Somali spaza shops in Du Noon were still closed recovering from the looting last week. 90 Golden Arrow buses which were stoned or torched during the strike.
13 February, 2009 Taxi strike, Cape Town, South Africa, thousands of commuters stranded and children were absent from school for safety!. Taxi strike turns nasty again yesterday. A Golden Arrow bus was petrol bombed on Vanguard Drive. 13 passengers injured, four women and two men sustained third-degree burns. Commuters call for a taxi boycott. Today armed guards guarded passengers waiting to board buses. By 10am on Thursday morning, more than 50 Golden Arrow buses had been damaged and 50 passengers injured. At least 150 bus windows were broken, said Vuyisile Mdoda, Golden Arrow spokesperson. More injuries to buses and passengers through out the day due to stoning. Taxi strike should end Friday.
10 February, 2009 Taxi strike, again.
6 December, 08 THE taxi strike planned for Nelson Mandela Bay tomorrow and Friday has been put on hold after high-level intervention by the ANC.
11/28/08 Violence during taxi protests. Two youths arrested at Port Elizabeth‘s Njoli Square for attempted murder and stoning police vehicles during the taxi strike. A taxi driver was arrested for attempted murder and reckless and negligent driving after shots were fired at a police vehicle last night.Traffic was backed up for kilometres. By 8am more than 300 taxis had assembled in Strand Street. The drivers met there before heading off to the Dan Qeqe Stadium in Zwide. Police put razor wire outside the entrance to the 2010 stadium
11/26/08 Algoa, bus service will not run during strike.
11/25/08 Strike is set to hit Nelson Mandela Bay on Thursday and Friday and yet another on Monday and Tuesday, seeing thousands of commuters stranded. Last week‘s taxi strike against the 2010 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system which left one person dead, motorists attacked and more than 15 Somali-owned shops looted.
11/20/08 Commuters in Nelson Mandela Bay. Taxi and bus strike back in full force for 48 hours. Dan Qeqe stadium in Zwide at 2pm for a rally. Algoa Bus Company will not be operating today, said chief executive officer Sicelo Duze. “The last time there was a strike our buses were stoned and attacked for operating, so we will be staying away.” Police are on high alert.
11/14/08 Taxi strike suspended for now.
11/4/08 South African Taxi strike at Mandela Bay, Commuters tell your boss you'll be late in next week. Taxi on strike for five days, which will be spread over three weeks. Starting 13 and 14 of November, 20 November and lastly the 27 November. Problem is Bus Rapid Transit system for the 2010 World Cup. Union members present at the meeting also vowed to help taxi associations in their fight against the BRT system.
9/9/08 The South Africa Transport and Allied Worker's Union (Satawu) has threatened to embark on a secondary strike should a call for better working conditions in the taxi industry go unheeded. .int.iol.co.za
8/30/08 South Africa, The one-day strike, which will take place on Wednesday, comes as drivers from across Tshwane prepare to vent their anger over what they claim is harassment from the city's metro police.
The strike is expected to leave thousands of commuters either stranded or late for work as they look for alternative transport..int.iol.co.za
8/28/08 South Africa operators and drivers have failed to reach an agreement to end a wage strike, the Johannesburg, Pretoria and Mabopane Taxi Association said on Thursday..int.iol.co.za
7/29/08 Africa, Taxi drivers to join Cosatu strike Sapa. thetimes.co.za
7/22/08 South Africa, The protesting taxi drivers threatened to attack passengers who boarded taxis during the strike action..iol.co.za
10 July 08 SA, The Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry reported an absenteeism rate of 70 percent to 80 percent.
8 July 08 South Africa, Durban, Port Edward, taxi strike. Thousands are expected to gather at Currie's Fountain. portedwardonline.co.za
9 July 08 South Africa, Durbhan, Update.entire eThekwini region was on Wednesday devoid of the usual morning bustle as most workers heeded the call from trade union giant Cosatu to stay away to protest against rising prices..iol.co.za
8 July 08 South Africa, Durban, Port Edward taxi strike. Thousands are expected to gather at Currie's Fountain. portedwardonline.co.za
8 July, SA.Taxi Boss: Strike - or lose your vehicle sowetan.co.za/News
7/29/08 Africa, Taxi drivers to join Cosatu strike Sapa. thetimes.co.za
SA Local and Long Distance Taxi and Bus Organisation (SALLDTBO) conference in Pretoria.
Bus Rapid Transport System.
SA National Taxi Council (Santaco)
District Taxi Association chairman Melekile Hani for Mandela Bay
Cape Town mayor Helen Zille Office
Durban Chamber of Commerce
Unions
Tuesday, 7 April, 2009 South African truck driver strike
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World wide strike headlines
South African taxi drivers shuffle an estimated 10 million commuters to and from work every day.Taxi drivers across South Africa's main gripe is the transport department is creating bus routes on routes already being plied by taxis. Bus Rapid Transit system, Rea Vaya. is expanding for the up and coming world cup, June 2010. An introduction of more buses could ultimately see their taxis being phased out. In South Africa a taxi is a symbol of their owners status and financial security. Cuts right into the heart of the culture. BRT would like to see these taxi drivers become bus drivers.
