Taxi drivers descend on Midrand

Taxi drivers belonging to the South African National Taxi Association (Santaco) are unhappy over the monthly installments they have to pay on their Toyota Quantum vehicles. 

Drivers say they have been hit hard by high interest rates and blacklisting due to the high repayments. 

They blocked several of Gauteng's major highways and routes on Thursday morning, leading to traffic chaos across Johannesburg and Tshwane. 

JMPD Spokesperson Edna Mamonyane says traffic is still heavy on the N1. 

"Traffic is very heavy on the N1 and other routes are getting affected because most of the taxis that didn't start the protest with the others in the morning have joined. These taxis are moving at a snail's pace on the freeways. Midrand is getting congested due to the influx of taxis going there." 

Santaco's Thulani Qwabe says members will have a mass meeting in Midrand where they will hand over the memorandum the South African Taxi Finance Holdings. They will then move to Kempton Park for a press conference. 

"We have been encouraged by the fact that a couple of companies have come forward and have asked us to engage. They have placed some concrete stuff on the table. We hope we will find an amicable solution with both business and government."