MEDIA ALERT

KZN TRANSPORT MEC BHEKI CELE CONGRATULATES PEOPLE OF KWAZULU-NATAL ON BEING RESOLUTE AND RESILIENT TO END THE UNWARRANTED TAXI STRIKE

KwaZulu Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Mr Bheki Cele sends his congratulations to the people of the province for being resolute in the face of the unreasonable "so called taxi strike" that was defeated today.

The un-elected leader of the un-constituted and KZN Transport Alliance, Mr Eugene Hadebe announced on radio this afternoon that he was calling off the so called strike action. Cele said the department wanted to send its apologies to the people of the province who had to undergo hardships and painful experiences on their traveling arrangements as a result of the unreasonable and intransigent leadership of the alliance.

"We have always been prepared to sit and talk to reasonable leaders in the taxi industry. Our doors are open twenty-four hours. Hadebe must mend his ways and use dialogue rather than threats and intimidation," he said.

Cele said it was the resolute and unwavering courage shown by the ordinary people of KwaZulu-Natal that Hadebe was made to see the error of his ways.

"The people of this province have been known to rise up to the occasion when bullies try to intimidate and force them into complying with their oppression. Again KwaZulu-Natal did not bow down, it is our people who have defeated Hadebe and his undemocratic alliance," he said.

Cele said Hadebe had an opportunity to mend his ways and approach the department for discussions on any proposals he had to improve public transport in the province. "We hope he will never again try to use our people as a bargaining chip". Cele also sent his appreciation to the KwaZulu-Natal Taxi Council for the principled stand they took in refusing to be populists and support the so-called strike. " I met leaders of Kwanataco this morning, and all without fail assured the department that they were happy with the process we have undertaken to discuss all issues affecting the taxi industry and resolve them amicably together," he said

"Our mandate is to provide a safe, reliable and affordable transport system in the province and we shall do everything in our power to do that. We have together with the people of the province shown that bullies cannot dictate to us anymore, the taxi industry shall be made safe," Cele said.

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