After threatening to bring Durban's transport system to a standstill, taxi operators put the brakes on their four-day strike last night. The SA National Taxi Council resolved to negotiate with the eThekwini municipality over their impounded vehicles after Santaco provincial deputy chairman Bheki Mbambo confirmed that the strike was "definitely over".He could not provide full details of the agreement, but earlier he said taxi operators were willing to pay the R1500 fine for the release of their taxis."We know we are not in a banana republic and can't get back the vehicles without paying," he said.Transport department spokesman Kwanele Ncalane said yesterday the government had tried to come to an agreement with the taxi industry on Wednesday, but the operators wanted 85 of the 163 impounded vehicles released free of charge."An impounded vehicle is only released to the owner after following proper legal processes and paying a fine determined by the court. This process is in line with the National Land Transport Act," he said.Taxi operators went on strike on Monday after Durban metro police impounded 305 vehicles, 163 of which were minibus taxis.After the operators threatened to stop municipal buses from operating, the municipality and the transport department warned commuters to be on high alert and beefed up law enforcement.However, Mbambo last night said commuters would be able to board taxis, buses and trains today.Taxi drivers in Gauteng have also threatened to embark on a strike in an attempt to raise awareness of the problems trying to secure operating permits."We are going through the same thing that our brothers in KwaZulu-Natal are going through. We would like to bring everything to standstill to make sure that everybody hears our call," said Gauteng Santaco general secretary Ralph Jones.Gauteng head of the department of transport Ronal Swartz and chief director of registration and operating licensing Bonga Majola have both admitted to the province's portfolio committee on transport that corruption in the department had caused problems in the issuing of operating licences...