NTA stage PTA march, threaten court action against Transport Department
The National Taxi Alliance (NTA) is expected to embark on a protest march in Pretoria on Wednesday.
The taxi association says it plans to hand over a memorandum of grievances to the Department of Transport, before heading down to the Union Buildings to hand over another memorandum to President Cyril Ramaphosa.
NTA spokesperson Theo Malele said it won’t take lying down the “ill-treatment and disdain” shown towards the taxi industry.
Malele also slammed government for its failure to release the Covid-19 relief fund promised to taxi drivers and operators earlier in the year.
“The reason for this in summary is that we have been deprived a freedom of association which is enshrined in chapter two section 18 of our Constitution as South Africans and secondly, the president and the minister had promised the taxi industry a relief fund of R1.135 billion and that money seems to be not coming forth.
“It will not be a strike that ends tomorrow. We have instructed our lawyers to file papers. We will be taking the department to the High Court and should all fail at the High Court we indent on appealing and we also are prepared to take it up to the Constitutional Court,” Malele added.
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He vowed the march would remain peaceful.
“The National Taxi Alliances’ policy is that its members should embark on a peaceful protest march and allow other people to carry on with their economic activities and also ensure that school-going kids are able to go and write their examinations without any interference,” Malele said.
He warned to expect some delays.
“We expect the N1, N3, the N17, N4 and route 563 to be somewhat a little bit heavy in terms of traffic as these routes will lead to Pretoria.”
The group will meet at the Old Putco depot in Marabastad and make its way to Cowie street, Struben street, Bosman Street and Paul Kruger where it will hand over a memorandum to Transport officials.
NTA members will then follow into Nelson Mandela Street, Madiba Street as they head to the Union Buildings.