NATIONAL NEWS - Johannesburg and Mamelodi in Tshwane saw two completely different sides of taxi drivers yesterday. Drivers in one city showed their disdain for the law and in the other, they enforced the law.
While the one-day Johannesburg strike over impounded minibus taxis rendered hundreds of commuters – mostly those using Alexandra, Randburg, Midrand and Sandton taxis – stranded, Mamelodi drivers won the hearts of their clients when they successfully dispersed a group of protesting residents blocking Tsamaya Road.
The Citizen photographer Jacques Nelles was among the journalists barred by protesting residents from entering Mamelodi.
A large group of protesters, mainly from a nearby informal settlement, spent most of the morning blocking Tsamaya Road, one of the busiest roads in Mamelodi.
“They blocked the road as a form of protest to get government’s attention to their service delivery issues, which included a demand for water, electricity and housing,” said Nelles.
“At around 1pm, a group of taxi drivers gathered near an area where residents were blocking the road and asked them to stop the action. They disregarded pleas by the group of taxi drivers. At this stage, there was no police presence in the area. This enraged drivers as they wanted to go through and ferry commuters.”
The protesters apparently underestimated the drivers’ resolve and started pelting stones at them. This led to the drivers taking action.
