Santaco calls off Gauteng taxi strike

On Thursday, during the Ntirhisano provincial taxi indaba at the Standard Bank Arena in Johannesburg, Santaco said they would embark on a strikeand march on Monday 4 July.

But on Friday Santaco’s Gauteng office said the decision to suspend the plans came after the council’s leadership met premier David Makhura. This was confirmed by the premier.

“When I met with the Santaco provincial leadership they informed me of their decision to suspend their strike. They also expressed their satisfaction that the Ntirhisano programme held yesterday [Thursday] dealt with most of the issues that are affecting the industry,” Makhura said on Friday.

At the meeting, Santaco had handed over a memorandum of their grievances and demands which would have been delivered at Monday’s march, he said.

At the taxi indaba, Santaco and the National Taxi Alliance (NTA) complained that their drivers were not treated fairly by the government and they should have been consulted before the Uber taxi service was allowed to operate legally. A summit would be held this month to discuss and find solutions to the taxi sector’s grievances.

“We are happy that they will no longer embark on a strike and march. We can now look forward to the taxi summit scheduled for later this month,” Makhura said.

He has appointed a five-member committee comprising of community safety MEC Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane; roads and transport MEC Ismail Vadi; economic development MEC Lebogang Maile; human settlements, local government, and traditional affairs MEC Paul Mashatile; and social development MEC Nandi Mayathula-Khoza.

The matters raised in the Santaco memorandum would be dealt with by the committee as part of the process towards the Gauteng taxi summit, Makhura said.