Santaco calls for study to resolve taxi permit issues in eThekwini

Staff shortages, loss of income impact on businesses due to strike

- THAMI MAGUBANE

AMID the ongoing taxi strike, which has brought Durban's public transport system to a standstill, Santaco has outlined a key demand to permanently resolve the problem on the issuing of operating permits.

The SA National Taxi Council yesterday called on the eThekwini Municipality to conduct a study to determine the exact number of taxis operating in the city.

Sifiso Shangase, the provincial spokesperson for Santaco, made this request amid a crippling strike by taxi operators in Durban. The taxi operators halted their services to protest against the government over the impounding of taxis by eThekwini metro police, as well as the City’s failure to recommend the issuing of operating permits.

The provincial government, eThekwini Municipality, and Santaco have held marathon meetings over the past two days in an attempt to resolve the strike. Late last night, KZN MEC for Transport Siboniso Duma told SABC News in a briefing that the taxi operators had agreed to halt the strike.

It was revealed that the parties had agreed to establish a task team to address daily challenges within the transport sector.

Mathula Mkhize of the eThekwini Metro Taxi Council said they had agreed to the formation of a task team that will work on a daily basis, addressing teething matters that affect our transport sector.