The KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Department of Transport confirmed on Friday that it has reached an agreement with the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) to end the Durban taxi strike.
Strike brought Durban to a standstill
According to SANTACO spokesperson Sphamandla Ndaba, the strike began after more than 30 taxis were impounded west of Durban.
Authorities argued that some vehicles were operating without proper permits or had number plate discrepancies linked to changes in the licensing system.
Taxi associations across the region joined the protest in solidarity with Clermont operators, demanding the release of the impounded vehicles and an overhaul of the permit application process.
Negotiations and resolution
The strike caused major disruptions for Durban commuters, many of whom were left stranded on Wednesday and Thursday. Taxi leaders met with the KZN Department of Transport late on Thursday evening to resolve the dispute.
KZN spokesperson Sifiso Shangase confirmed that long meetings were held to address the core issues. He explained that the Department agreed to speed up the processing of permits and review the cases of the vehicles that had been impounded.
“The strike had to continue until we reached some form of consensus. Now, with the issues being attended to, both parties can move forward,” Shangase said.
During the strike, many commuters in the Durban area had to rely on buses or alternative transport. Some reported being harassed by taxi drivers in areas like Avoca, where buses were allegedly blocked from carrying passengers.
Shangase condemned this behaviour, saying:
“We do not support harassment of commuters. People must be free to choose whichever transport they want to use. Drivers must desist from such actions.”
The Department of Transport said it is working to ensure that taxi operators receive their permits faster in the future. Authorities also promised that all impounded vehicles would be dealt with according to the law, with some already being released.
SANTACO has apologised to commuters for the inconvenience caused during the two-day stay-away.
Ndaba added that while frustrations remain high in the industry, taxi councils are committed to further talks with government to prevent similar strikes.
The agreement is expected to restore normal taxi services across Durban from Thursday evening.
