MEDIA STATEMENT

BLOCKADING OF ROADS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Safety and Security Mr. Bheki Cele has warned taxi drivers that the blockading of public roads is illegal and will not be tolerated and that those who are involved in such activities will face the full might of the law.

Cele was responding to taxi drivers who blockaded roads in and around Durban this morning and caused inconvenience to thousands of other motorists and members of public apparently because they were unhappy with fines issued to them by the Durban Metro Police.

Cele has promised that this will never happen again. "No government will tolerate unnecessary inconvenience caused to its citizens. The blockading of public roads is illegal and those involved as well as those who are contemplating such activities should immediately desist. We will use all our resources to remove these people and their vehicles. There will be no negotiations on the road and those involved will be arrested and face the full might of the law," Cele said.

Head of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport Dr. Kwazi Mbanjwa reiterated Cele’s words and warned those involved in the blockading of roads that they will face the maximum sentences, including stiff penalties for the towing of their vehicles and pound fees. "Even the leadership of the taxi industry in the province was not aware of this blockade. It seems that the taxi drivers just decided to do their own thing. If people have problems they must use the correct channels and procedures to address such problems. This will not be tolerated and we are working together with the SAPS and the Ethekwini Municipality to ensure that this never happens again," Mbanjwa said.

Police are currently busy on the scene ensuring that the roads are opened again and that everything is restored to normal. Several drivers have already been arrested and their taxis impounded.

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