KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Willies Mchunu, is pleased to announce that after an extensive engagement with the community of Greater KwaDukuza, public protests that saw the barricading of roads early this week, have been called off.
Early this week the MEC received reports that the self-imposed suspension of taxi operations in KwaDukuza had angered the local communities, resulting in them boycotting local taxis. The community decided to barricade the R102 road in protest against the suspension of taxi operations in the area.
Taxi withdrawal was self-imposed by taxi operators, who were protesting against the visibility of law enforcement in the area and the suspension of some of their vehicles. This left commuters without transport and having to travel long distance to work and schools.
However, this week (Wednesday) Mchunu met with the community of Ntshawini, eThembeni and Groutville to share government’s plan to restore public transport in the area. Before meeting with the community, MEC met with the Mayor of KwaDukuza and the whole council to take the local leadership to confidence on the work done by the Department of Transport to expedite issues relating to public transport.
This visit by the MEC was part of interventions by government to restore order in the area following three days of unrest by the community. During the meeting the community was unequivocal about a need to have an alternative transport in the area.
“After an extensive engagement with the people, we are happy that they have suspended protests. We noted all the issues they have raised and I did make an undertaking that we are going to consider a possibility of having a bus operation in the area. It is our policy that people must have alternative transport and we want to integrate public transport operations in the province. I have committed myself to report back to the people on Monday,” said Mchunu.
He commended the people of Greater KwaDukuza for showing maturity and willingness to cooperate with government’s efforts to resolve their plight. Today (Thursday, 9 May 2013) Mchunu met with the leadership of KwaDukuza Taxi Association to address issues relating to operating licences.
In a meeting Mchunu reiterated that there were no grounds for the association to suspend operations and leave the people without transport. The meeting resolved to continue tomorrow (Friday, 10 May 2013) and Mchunu is optimistic that operations will soon resume.
Media contact:
Kwanele Ncalane
Cell: 072 803 1462 or 079 699 5755
