Taxi Drivers Protest Over Potholed Roads and Permit Delays in Mangaung

Taxi drivers from Botshabelo protested on Wednesday to demand better roads and improved services.

Scores of taxi operators from Botshabelo, outside Bloemfontein, marched to the offices of the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality on Wednesday to demand better roads and improved services.

The group handed memorandums to the municipality and the Free State Department of Community Safety, Roads and Transport.

Their demands included a call for the issuing of permits and the reopening of the Botshabelo Vehicle Testing Centre which has been closed for seven years. They also want Botshabelo’s pothole-ridden roads and in the metro to be repaired immediately.

March organiser Tsietsi Masithela said taxi operators are frustrated with poor administration by the authorities. He said drivers were tired of being ignored by officials. One of the main complaints was delays around transfer of ownership documents and permit allocations.

“Most times permits go missing or are sold to other people,” he claimed.

According to Masithela, taxi owners have incurred additional costs to get to vehicle testing sites in Bloemfontein or Brandfort since the closure of the Botshabelo testing centre.

“I do not want to talk about roads. They are a mess. We fix a taxi almost every two weeks and are running at a loss. I do not know if these roads are blessed or cursed with potholes, but they are very bad,” he said.

He also raised concerns about delays in permit renewals, saying drivers are often stopped by traffic officers and asked to produce their permits, which have not yet been issued.

The memorandums were received by Teboho Maine on behalf of the municipality and Mike Nthuping from the office of MEC Jabu Mbalula.

Officials have promised to meet with the taxi operators and driver within two weeks.

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