Taxis strike over BRT expansion

2010-03-12 08:11

Johannesburg - Some commuters in Soweto and Orange Farm were left stranded on Friday as the minibus taxi industry boycotted the expansion of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.

"There's a taxi stay-away in Orange Farm, Freedom Park, Eldorado Park and certain parts of Soweto. There are long queues in Rockville," said
Johannesburg metro police spokesperson Wayne Minnaar.

United Taxi Association Forum spokesperson Ralph Jones said the stay-away was in opposition to the introduction of feeder buses for the BRT system in Soweto.

There were no shortages of taxis for commuters in the inner city and other parts of Soweto, he said.

Jones accused the city of failing to update the right people in the taxi industry on BRT negotiations.

He said the strike would continue until the city came up with a workable proposal for the taxi industry.

Soweto police said no strike-related incidents had been reported by 07.30 on Friday.

- SAPA