By: Talent Buthelezi

Residents of the Clermont and the KwaDabeka Township were stranded as they stood in the Clermont/Umlazi taxi rank after drivers were allegedly in a meeting on Thursday afternoon.

The meeting was held in New Germany, east of Durban where drivers of the Clermont area gathered to talk about a possible strike. According to a source within the Clermont Taxi Association, drivers are furious and feel that their grievances aren’t being addressed.

It is suspected that drivers of Cleremont and KwaDabeka demand a wage increase and better working conditions.

Commuters waited helplessly for about three hours before taxis started flocking into the rank when the meeting was over.

Nombuso Ndlovu, a resident of the area who was also stranded on Thursday expressed her dissatisfaction with the service that both taxi drivers and owners failed to deliver to their passengers.

“I’m very frustrated as to how we’re being treated by both drivers and taxi-owners in the area. I as a taxi user or passenger feel that I should be informed well in advance if drivers are going to embark on a strike or meeting,” said Ndlovu.

Vusumuzi Dlamini, a taxi-owner said that taxi drivers are being ridiculous with their demands.

“These boys are just wasting their energy; their demands are more than what we can afford to give. Just the other day my employee of 10 years asked me if he could have the oldest taxi I own and I refused to give it to him because I need it and so does my family,” Dlamini said.

Some of the taxi drivers told JournalismIziko that they are striking because they are being exploited by their bosses.

“We have worked for our employers for years; we keep watching them as they get wealthy while we suffer. They forget that we are the ones bringing the money in the first place,” said a source who pleaded not to be named for fearing for his life.

The strike is expected to officially begin this week.