KZN MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma has announced that Ugu District taxi protest has been called off following his intervention of halting Operation Shanela for a few days.
On Tuesday, MEC Duma met with the South African National Taxi Council Head and Ugu Taxi Association at Head Office in Pietermaritzburg.
The strike affected many people including the learners as the scholar transports and the buses were also not operating over two days.
After addressing the taxi operators at the Port Shepstone Sports Ground, the MEC also met with Mayor of Ugu District Municipality Councillor Sikhumbuzo Isaac Mqadi and the Mayor of Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality Zodwa Mzindle and the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) KZN chairperson, Boy Zondi.
The memorandum which MEC Duma received addressed issues on Operation Shanela and permit issues.
The MEC announced that a meeting will be convened with the taxi associations in Ugu District Municipality to resolve more than a decade long conflict over routes and all parties agreed that law and order will be maintained to ensure the safety of commuters, members of the public, and socio-economic infrastructure.
The MEC warned that the elements that are attempting to use the taxi industry to advance a political agenda will be isolated.
The meeting also resolved to protect the taxi industry in the interest of honest taxi operators.
He pointed out that his office will continue to have working relations with Santaco leadership and all KZN taxi associations which he said dates back to 1994 when Sbu Ndebele was the MEC for Transport in the province.
The MEC stressed that moving forward “all parties will work collectively to ensure the stability of the taxi industry in order to make sure that the nurses, doctors and all health workers are in hospitals and clinics to provide quality care to patients, teachers are in school and teaching; pupils are in school and learning; government and Municipal workers are at work and accelerating service delivery; and workers are at work – working to grow the economy”.