Burning tyres blocked roads and school exams had to be postponed as taxi operators embarked on a crippling province-wide protest in the Eastern Cape on Friday.
The operators vowed that “everything will come to a halt” as they planned to march to provincial government offices in Bhisho to hand over a petition about their grievances and demand taxi operating licences from the department of transport.
Thousands of commuters will be affected by the strike which started turning ugly early on Friday.
The Daily Dispatch reported on Twitter that Oxford Street in East London was burning. “More police have arrived on the scene in Oxford street and helping clear the road‚” said one tweet.
“Oxford Street in East London is on fire‚” said another‚ showing a video of burning tyres.
“Police vehicles are seen monitoring the situation. Not even a single taxi at Highway Taxi Rank #TaxiStrike‚” said another tweet.
There was more chaos in Port Elizabeth where The Herald newspaper poster on Twitter: “JUST IN : Exams have been postponed at VP High School and at #NMMU due to the taxi strike in Nelson Mandela Bay #ECTaxiStrike.”
“Taxi strike in full swing. Residents are burning in Langa (Uitenhage)‚ preventing any vehicles from fetching workers. #ECTaxiStrike‚” said another tweet.
This is a developing story. – TMG Digital
