Temporary space allocated to protesting Umhlanga taxis
The taxi blockade in Umhlanga Rocks on Tuesday is expected to lead to a temporary solution.
A meeting between taxi bosses and the management of Umhlanga's Oceans Mall has agreed that taxi operators can temporarily use as a rank, a section of the centre's parking is vacant.
Drivers have been complaining about a lack of an allocated place to pick up and drop off commuters.
READ: Taxi operators protest over ranking issue in Umhlanga
They have been blockading some access points into Umhlanga Village for in a bid to get authorities to act.
Their minibus taxis are now lining up to move into the allocated temporary taxi rank.
"We agreed on a temporary arrangement of which is, we are going open temporary here so the road will be open, the concrete that were blocking the road will also be removed," says eThekwini Metro Police's Boysie Zungu.
"Then tomorrow we are going have an engagement or meeting to try to solve or to get a permanent solution to this kind of problem."
Tuesday's protest was prompted by barricades that taxi operators were met with this morning when they tried to access the area near the mall where they had been parking and operating from.
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A heavy-duty truck with a crane arrived earlier this afternoon to lift and remove the bollards.
Themba Khubeka from Santaco's great north region says it's about time.
"We are so happy. Even this morning, it shouldn't have taken so long. We asked this morning can they move these barriers. Now they are moving it and it's starting to come right now. All along we couldn't see where we are going."
