Nothando Makhubela
Thousands of commuters and learners across Mpumalanga have been left stranded due to taxi drivers protesting against Buscor Company’s operating hours in Mpumalanga.
Taxi drivers set fire to a Buscor bus in the early hours of Wednesday morning in Pienaar, blocking Buscor depots and routes.
A fuel tanker was pulled across the road under the bridge near Canary Walk in Mbombela.
Mahushu, Pienaar, KaNyamazane, Sasol Emkhatsini, KaBokweni, Barberton Ext 15, KMI Airport access, Bushbuckridge road blocked at Marite, Numbi Gate, Buscor Depot Mbombela, Buscor Depot Nkomazi, N4 Karino, Numbi road blocked at Hillsview turn off, and other areas surrounding Mbombela were confirmed to be closed.
Buscor spokesperson Thomas Lubisi said they applied for and were granted a court interdict to stop the protest. However, it appears that the interdict was disregarded.
“Taxi associations have set fire to one of our buses in Pienaar. The majority of our depots are closed,” said Lubisi.
“All we know is the taxi associations have decided that we should not operate on an hourly basis and that our buses must ferry people who pay cash during the day. Thousands of our passengers have been affected.”
Lubisi said they can’t comment on the taxi association’s demands but Buscor has been hired by the government’s Department of Roads and Transport.
A grade 11 learner from Lowveld High School said they didn’t go to school because of the protest.
“Buses did not come to pick us up,” said the learner.
Fikile Mthembu, who works in Mbombela and takes the bus to work said: “I did not make it to work today and my children were unable to attend school. I travel by bus because it is cheaper than taking a taxi.”
When Scrolla.Africa spoke to Moses Gama, the Santaco spokesperson in Mbombela, he refused to comment.
Bongani Dlamini, the spokesperson for the Department of Public Works, Roads, and Transport, in Mpumalanga said: “We have a meeting at 2pm with both taxi and Buscor stakeholders. We hope to find a solution and have this matter resolved.”
