Durban experienced a significant shutdown on Friday morning as taxis blocked major roadways, resulting in extensive traffic congestion.
Durban taxi shutdown causes traffic gridlock: Here’s the latest
PLEASE NOTE: The third-party content below is shared on our platform for journalistic purposes. Swisher Post, its parent company, partners and affiliates shall not be held liable for any consequence that arises from the journalistic duties performed in sharing this content.
Motorists found themselves stranded in kilometres-long traffic jams due to barricades set up by protesting taxi drivers.
Key areas affected included Greyville and parts of the N3 highway, with reports of burning tyres being used to obstruct roads.
The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) quickly distanced itself from the protest, stating that it had not authorised the action.
Santaco KZN’s Sifiso Shangase indicated that the council was attempting to identify the individuals responsible for the protest.
He emphasised that the council did not endorse the protest and suspected political manipulation as the underlying cause.
Garrith Jamieson of ALS Paramedics reported that the N3 interchange near the Pavilion Shopping Centre was severely impacted, with both directions of the highway experiencing gridlock.
He described the scene as a “no-go,” with vehicles backed up for kilometres and people abandoning taxis to walk to their destinations.
Other heavily affected areas included Umgeni, Sandile Thusi Road (Argyle), and Greyville, where burning tyres were also placed along the roads.
Why are taxis protesting?
Santaco representatives, including Shangase, suggested that the protest was politically motivated, occurring just days before the 29 May elections.
They accused politicians of exploiting taxi drivers to create disruptions and unrest in the city.
Shangase reiterated that Santaco, which does not align with any political party, did not authorise the protest and was investigating the matter further.