In what can perhaps be described as a tit-for-tat war, taxi drivers closed off the Witvlag road two weeks ago to stop commuters from travelling between the Vhulaudzi area and Louis Trichardt. The taxi drivers feel that their fares should increase, something that has apparently not happened in more than a decade.
When the latest taxi fares were introduced, angry community members responded by blocking off roads, preventing taxis from passing and conducting business. The cost of travelling by taxi from Vhulaudzi to Louis Trichardt increased from R20 to R25. On shorter local routes, the fare increased from R10 to R12.
The taxi operators retaliated on Friday, 14 January, by blocking off routes and preventing buses and other vehicles from travelling to and from Louis Trichardt. They demanded, among other things, that buses also increase their fares and decrease their fleet of vehicles.
Dozens of commuters were seen in the Vhulaudzi area attempting to hike back home from town. Commuters were left stranded, and many workers did not report for work because of the barricaded roads.
Mr Nathaniel Mafunisa, spokesperson for the Dzanani II Taxi Association, confirmed that the drivers had blocked off the roads. He said this was also done in response to community members who had previously closed off the road, only allowing motorists and buses to pass. He said that after they had met with the police and bus operators in the area, they had agreed to work together.
Mafunisa said that the increase for the specific area was the first in 13 years. In other parts of Nzhelele, the price increased three years ago to R25 per trip.
A local resident, Mr Ronald Masia, complained by saying that taking a taxi was costly as he would have to part with R50 a day just to get to work. From where he travels, he has to catch a connecting taxi, which also costs R25. "Our lives are being owned by taxi people. Now they are forcing us to use taxis. Where are we going to get all that money from? It's unfair," he said.
Masia said that they had tried to talk to the taxi operators, but their pleas fell on deaf ears. "They fought to have their prices increased and then they stack them up to 100% capacity. Now they stopped buses from operating," he said. Masia reckoned the protest action of commuters will continue in an effort to get taxi drivers to reduce their fares.
Another commuter, Ms Joyce Mokoena, said she was able to catch a lift from Tshitavha Tshavhulaudzi, only to find that no taxis or buses were using the alternative road. "Our jobs are on the line. These people are really unfair. People have lost jobs in the pandemic; we can't risk ours now," she said. "They can't force us to use taxis where they even treat us badly," she added.