Umlazi protest: 'better communication needed between residents, councillors'
Taxi associations in Umlazi have slammed disgruntled community members who have, for at least the past two months, been blockading parts of the Mangosuthu Highway with burning tyres every morning.
Police say today about 500 residents barricaded the busy road at Emalandeni informal settlement in V-section, complaining about service delivery issues including the provision of RDP houses.
Motorists were forced to find alternative routes out of the township, causing major traffic delays in Isipingo.
The taxi associations for NMR as well as E, F and G sections of the township say there needs to be communication between residents and local councillors to bring an end to the disruptions.
Spokesperson for the associations Richard Hadebe says there are amicable ways to address residents' concerns.
"We rely on commuters, who rely on us and drivers rely on taxi owners for roadworthy vehicles and we all communicate. Why can't there be communication to let us know what times the roads will be blocked- so that we can also give an input for the best times for communities to do this," he said.
Hadebe says they have been running at a loss for the past two months, forking out more money for petrol to end up with fewer loads due to the road blockades.
"The taxi uses more petrol driving around trying to find another way to get commuters to work at times we have to go through Chatsworth and thats more petrol," he said.
NMR's Mandla Duma says there have been no forthcoming answers from local councillors on what possible solutions there could be to the issues facing disgruntled communities.