Update: Protest by taxi operators in CBD

Update

GEORGE NEWS - Cradock Street in front of the Go George transport hub, between Hibernia and Market streets, is currently being blocked by taxis as part of protest action.

The reason for the protest could not be confirmed yet, but it is believed to be related to various taxis being impounded in George during the past week.

Police, law enforcement and members of the traffic department are at the scene.

Motorists are advised to use alternative routes and cautioned that they may as a result experience traffic congestion in the surrounding CBD area. As a precautionary measure, all Go George buses have been temporarily suspended.

On Thursday 17 June the Codeta Disadvantage Taxi Association in George (Codeta) told George Herald journalist Eugene Gunning that they are unhappy because the George Municipality has allegedly not reacted to a list of grievances that were handed over to them recently.

Mawande Qhange, an executive member of Codeta, said they gave their grievances to the municipality at the end of last month. “We gave them 14 days to react and they haven’t. We won’t sit still until we get answers,” he said.

Among the grievances is that their vehicles are being impounded. “They are playing hide and seek with us," he said.

According to Qhange two of their members were also arrested by the police on Wednesday.

In reply to an enquiry about these grievances, municipal senior communications officer Athane Scholtz said that Codeta had been answered in writing on all the concerns they had raised in recent communications and that a representative of the organisation had collected and signed for such document.

“All taxis drivers, irrespective of their affiliation, require a valid operating license in terms of the National Land Transport Act before they may legally transport fare-paying passengers. The approval authority for these licenses is the Provincial Regulatory Entity (PRE) and not George Municipality. Vehicles that operate without such licence are therefore illegal and may be impounded,” she said.