"Taxi drivers are showing us middle finger": SA reacts to taxi strike
- Angry South Africans have taken to social media to express disdain over another taxi strike
- The strike comes as taxi drivers and owners complain about being ignored by the government during the coronavirus pandemic
- Locals however are unimpressed with their tactics and timing, stating that the matrics need transport to travel to their exam venues
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South African taxi associations have organised another strike - and it could not have come at a worse time for both employees - who are anxious about getting back to work after a year of interruptions - and for students who are currently writing matric exams.
Taxi drivers and owners are striking due to alleged abandonment by the government, which had made certain promises to them after they were left without work during the lockdown that was brought about by the global Covid-19 pandemic.
South African commuters are not happy with the taxi association's decision to strike during a time when their customers and loyal supporters need them most. Many of them have headed to social media to air their frustrations about the strike.
Read a few of their comments below.
@uphiwe_404 said:
"Taxi owners keep showing SA commuters the middle finger. How do you close out roads mid-exam period to complain about a relief fund when you pay 0 taxes to assist the repayment of that fund? #TaxiStrike"
@mash_iie said:
"Taxi drivers filled taxis to 100% capacity during the pandemic & raised prices by up to 100% earlier this year and now they still want to benefit from the Covid-19 relief fund? This is beyond an abusive relationship. #TaxiStrike"
@Flo_Letoaba said:
"Matrics this year are dealing with the most honestly, lockdown, stress about exams and now #TaxiStrike on top of it, it’s really not fair."
Source: Twitter
Earlier today, Briefly.co.za reported that striking taxi drivers brought the N1 North between Johannesburg and Pretoria to a near-complete standstill by blocking the highway on Wednesday morning.
A bus, hijacked by protestors in Orchards near Pretoria, has been the focus of a search for a female driver. It remains unclear whether or not the driver had made it out of the bus before it was stolen,with colleagues still struggling to reach her.
The City of Tshwane has confirmed that passengers had been forced off of the bus while it was on its route. This prompted the metro to recall all bus services due to security reasons while the National Taxi Alliance insists that the protest is a peaceful one.
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Source: Briefly News
