Taxi strike: Commuters stuck

2003-06-11 17:54

Johannesburg - An estimated one thousand commuters waiting for taxis to Alexandra, north of Johannesburg, were stranded on Wednesday afternoon as a taxi drivers' strike continued.

Metro police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wayne Minaar told Sapa: "The situation is not good. At least 1 000 people have left work and want to get home. They are milling around in Noord Street, Twist Street and even as far as Louis Botha Avenue - all looking for a lift or some means of transport.

"Metrobus runs a service from the city centre to Wynberg near Alexandra but that's still not all the way home," he said.

The strike by members of the Alexandra, Midrand and Sandton Taxi Association was called to protest at the closure by provincial authorities of part of the Noord Street parking garage.

Johannesburg Metro spokesperson Nthathisi Modingoane said: "The basement of the Jack Mincer parking garage at Noord Street in central Johannesburg was closed recently because it was being used by criminal elements and it was unsafe. The Alex Midrand taxi association used the garage to park in off-peak periods and now they want to meet the province and have it re-opened."

- SAPA