The Executive Mayor of the Mangaung Metro Municipality in the Free State, Gregory Nthatisi, say the city has reached consensus with the Botshabelo Amalgamated Taxi Association to lift the taxi operation shutdown.
The city engaged the taxi association after operations were halted in Botshabelo leaving many people stranded, as the Interstate Bus Line also halted operations due to safety reasons.
The taxi association joined the shutdown call which highlighted issues of lack of service delivery, challenges of license permits and concerns of dilapidated roads in Mangaung.
Nthatisi has emphasised that the metro is working on a long-term resolution.
“We had a very good meeting with the taxi drivers and I can proudly say the shutdown with regard to the taxi owners and their crisis is over. We’ll be waiting together. We’ve established a committee that will work with us moving forward. But there’s a problem that I need to raise. Facts, there are criminals who are piggybacking on the foreign element, destroying shops and looting. Those are a subject of law enforcement unit and will stop at nothing but to arrest them. We cannot tolerate people who would want to express their interest around community matters and mess up the lives (of the people) where our community members are living.”
Meanwhile, more than 140 people have been arrested for public violence and looting in Bloemfontein.
The looting of shops owned by foreign nationals started on Sunday night and continued throughout Monday, amidst an ongoing Mangaung shutdown protest.
National Service Delivery Forum leader, Potso Motoko has called for a total shutdown in Bloemfontein, Botshabelo and Thaba Nchu.
The group is calling for a review and termination of outsourcing and privatisation, as well as suspension of municipal officials and service providers implicated in corruption and nepotism.
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