Durban – Police used teargas and stun grenades on Wednesday during a march in central Durban by the KwaZulu-Natal Transport Alliance (KZNTA).
The 300-strong crowd delivered a memorandum to the city’s mayor James Nxumalo at the Durban City hall. He was surrounded by heavily armed security officers.
The alliance members then marched from the hall to Pixley ka Seme Street (formerly West Street).
Stun grenades and teargas were released as police officers chased after groups of taxi drivers taking part in the strike. It was not clear what caused the chaos.
A number of taxi drivers had hammers, sticks, and clubs in their possession.
All the shops in the street were closed.
Colonel Jay Naicker said the march began at 11am. The taxi operators were protesting about routes.
“At this stage the police are monitoring. No property damaged or injuries reported,” he said.
Earlier, the eThekwini municipality called for a peaceful march.
“The municipality urges the event organisers to advise their members to refrain from vandalising council property or causing any disturbances during the march,” spokeswoman Tozi Mthethwa said in a statement.
The municipality was aware of the reasons for the KZNTA’s march.
These included the issue of operating licences, laws being in English, and the alliance feeling “shut out” by the municipality.
Mthethwa said the province was working on moving the licensing function to the city…
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