Fight over taxi routes in Mamelodi

Pretoria - Minibus taxi drivers have closed down Tsamaya street in Mamelodi, near Pretoria, after an argument over taxi routes, police said on Friday.

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"The situation is that the drivers are not agreeing in principal about the usage of certain routes," said Captain Johannes Maheso.

Roads in the township were blocked with rocks and burning tyres with the main street, Tsamaya. being the most affected.

Maheso said a meeting was held to find an amicable solution and it was agreed that the debris would be removed from the roads. He said it was not rival taxi unions but just the taxi drivers who were at loggerheads.

Maheso explained that the "small business" drivers (who operate with their private cars) and minibus drivers disagreed over routes.

The situation was under control, with law enforcement officers from different units deployed in the township.

Three cars had reportedly been damaged, but the extent of the damage still had to be ascertained, Maheso said.