The taxi blockade that halted traffic on the N3 near Spaghetti Junction in Durban has been cleared, according to eThekwini metro police. The blockade, which occurred on Monday morning, was organized by members of the Long Distance Taxi Association in protest of delayed permits and issues surrounding Operation Shanela, a law enforcement initiative targeting unroadworthy taxis and illegal operators.
The protesting drivers have vowed to continue their strike until KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Transport MEC Siboniso Duma fulfills his promise to issue the necessary permits. The taxi operators are also voicing dissatisfaction with the ongoing enforcement of Operation Shanela, which has resulted in the impounding of vehicles deemed unroadworthy or operating without proper documentation.
Transport spokesperson Ndabezinhle Sibiya clarified that more than 4,000 permits are waiting to be collected by taxi operators, urging that the disruptions were unwarranted. "We believe there must be another underlying issue beyond the concerns about permits and Operation Shanela," Sibiya said. "Operation Shanela was implemented years ago to protect legitimate taxi owners."
The protests have caused significant disruption, but with the blockade now cleared, authorities are hopeful for a return to normalcy.