Pretoria - Traffic authorities have urged motorists to be patient as a planned taxi protest makes its way through national roads in Gauteng on Thursday morning.
Johannesburg Metro Police Department spokesperson Wayne Minnaar told News24 that taxis were blocking roads and travelling on the N1, N3 and N12.LIVE: #TaxiStrike Gauteng education MEC urges parents to keep children at home
Thousands of motorists are affected by the strike action.
Minister responds
The Minister of Transport condemns the blocking of major roads in and around Johannesburg, Midrand and Pretoria by the members of SANTACO, which has brought traffic to a standstill, reports the Transport Department.
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According to the department: "The Minister also condemns the violence that has characterised this demonstration. While it is everybody's constitutional right to demonstrate, this has to be done within the ambit of the law.
"The Department is also aware of the challenges faced by the taxi industry with regards to the affordability of financing their taxi vehicles. We sympathize with the taxi industry in this regard. It must however, be emphasized that it is a matter between the industry and the SA taxi finance.
"We have also been informed that the parties have since reached an agreement and as such we therefore call upon SANTACO members to clear the roads so that the traffic flow can return to normal"
We also want to apologise to commuters who are affected and encourage them to use other modes of public transport such as busses and trains