MEDIA STATEMENT

KWAZULU-NATAL MEC FOR TRANSPORT, MR S'BU NDEBELE, HAS WARNED THOSE WHO BLOCKADE ROADS WILL BE SENT TO JAIL

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Mr S'bu Ndebele has issued a stern warning to the leadership of taxi associations as well as the public in the province that those who blockade roads will be sent to jail.

MEC Ndebele made these comments today after a taxi blockade was staged near Kwa Mashu. In this regard, the MEC has commended members of the South African Police Services under the leadership of Assistant Commissioner Ntanjana, the Durban Metro Police under the command of Director Henry Manzi as well as members of the South African National Defence Force for their swift action in dealing with this morning's blockade.

"Let this be a warning to others who intend blockading roads that they will face the full might of the law and we will utilise all enforcement facilities at our disposal to deal accordingly with these situations. The vehicles involved will be towed away and impounded and the owners of these vehicles will be charged and held liable for the towing costs," Mr Ndebele said.

Mr Ndebele has urged members of the associations to give negotiations a chance and to resist taking the law into their own hands. "Blockading roads will not solve the real problem. Blockading roads not only inconveniences people, it is an illegal activity that will result in the arrests of the participants. Under no circumstances will we tolerate roads being blockaded in any part in the province, regardless of the problem. Our position on this issue is not negotiable and vehicles and barricades will be forcibly removed if necessary," he said.

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