Clermont and KwaDabeka Taxi Shutdown Leaves Commuters Stranded
Viable News Team 
Image Credit: ArriveAlive
Pinetown – Commuters in Clermont and KwaDabeka were left stranded on Tuesday morning after the Clermont and KwaDabeka Taxi Association announced a full taxi shutdown.
Why the Shutdown?
The association says the shutdown follows the impounding of 25 minibus taxis by authorities last Friday. Officials claim the vehicles were operating without the necessary permits.
However, the association disputes this. Secretary Sibusiso Khanyezi insists that some of the taxis did, in fact, have valid operating permits.
“It’s unfair. Some of these vehicles had permits, yet they were still impounded. It has cost us over R150,000 to get them released from the pound,” Khanyezi said.
Rising Tensions with E-Hailing Drivers
The shutdown comes just days after the KwaZulu-Natal E-hailing Council and the taxi association met to address tensions following the assault of two e-hailing drivers in KwaDabeka.
The association says Friday’s impounding of their vehicles has only worsened frustrations, stalling peace efforts between traditional taxi operators and e-hailing services.
With taxis parked off the roads, thousands of residents in Clermont and KwaDabeka near Pinetown have been forced to seek alternative transport, including buses and e-hailing services – which remain under pressure due to recent hostilities.
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