No taxis for Joburg today
11 March 2010, 21:09
There will be no minibus taxis in Johannesburg from Friday as operators strike against the introduction of feeder buses for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in Soweto, the United Taxi Association Forum said on Thursday.
The city had been talking to people who did not represent the taxi industry and had not been updating them on BRT negotiations, spokesman Ralph Jones claimed.
"They now want to introduce the feeder buses when already we have problems with the existing BRT and some of our taxis have been repossessed.
"We have never agreed to anything for the BRT. We have not been told how this BRT is going to benefit us as an industry, or that it is going to go on tender to us," Jones alleged.
The strike would continue until the city came up with a proposal for the industry.
"We will be doing our gardens tomorrow [Friday]. There are no plans to get together because we do not want to be accused of illegal gathering."
The body would wait for the city to approach them with a proposal.
The city was not available for comment.
The Gauteng roads and transport department has urged commuters to use buses and trains.
"We appeal to employers to be sensitive to the inconvenience this development may place on their employees," spokesman Philemon Motshwaedi said. -
Sapa
The city had been talking to people who did not represent the taxi industry and had not been updating them on BRT negotiations, spokesman Ralph Jones claimed.
"They now want to introduce the feeder buses when already we have problems with the existing BRT and some of our taxis have been repossessed.
"We have never agreed to anything for the BRT. We have not been told how this BRT is going to benefit us as an industry, or that it is going to go on tender to us," Jones alleged.
The strike would continue until the city came up with a proposal for the industry.
"We will be doing our gardens tomorrow [Friday]. There are no plans to get together because we do not want to be accused of illegal gathering."
The body would wait for the city to approach them with a proposal.
The city was not available for comment.
The Gauteng roads and transport department has urged commuters to use buses and trains.
"We appeal to employers to be sensitive to the inconvenience this development may place on their employees," spokesman Philemon Motshwaedi said. -
Sapa
Pretoria
