23 Nov 2021

A Combi and Taxi Association official has urged protesting operators to return to work following the reaching of an amicable solution with Ministry of Transport and Communications authorities.

  Some combi and taxi operators downed tools yesterday, leaving scores of commuters stranded.

  Speaking in an interview, the association’s chairman, Mr Edson Tlhomelang said the permanent secretary and director had promised that its October 25 letter requesting a review of fares would be responded to before Friday.

  Mr Tlhomelang alleged that the letter,  requesting that fares be increased to P7, was not responded to within the stipulated 10-day government response time.

  He said a combination of factors  including the fact that their request was not acceded to and the impact of high fuel prices as well as rising transport fees on their lives, triggered the strike.

Mr Tlhomelang said while Department of Road Transport and Safety fees continued to go up, fares had remained stagnant.

Giving examples, he said permit renewal fee had increased from P300 to P800 while combi substitution levy, formerly P600, was  now P1 800.

  In a media release, the ministry had indicated it was engaging local operators to ensure business continuity and to address emerging issues regarding the strike.

Stating that it was not informed of the strike, the ministry confirms having consultative meetings in September with the association as well as Botswana Bus Operators Association on the increase of service fees.

The release states that  it was the  ministry’s understanding that meetings with the concerned associations were cordial and fruitful.

“It is regrettable that while we are still discussing this matter in the spirit of finding solutions some operators are embarking on a strike inconveniencing members of the public and affecting the economy,” said the release.

 The ministry says it is disturbed by reports of intimidation on operators who continued to service the public.

“We wish to advise those who have embarked on such acts to desist from doing so,” says the release.

The day saw disgruntled combi operators blocking all the vehicles they suspected to be pirating commuters and removed passengers from taxis entering the Gaborone Bus Rank.

Only long distance buses remained full operational while some shops such as Pep Stores were closed.

Meanwhile, St Joseph’s College school head, Ms Constance Male has said the strike affected the institution’s operations, especially the writing of Form Five examinations.

“When I read about the taxi strike on social media yesterday, I thought it was fake news, but this morning around 0600hrs  when no school child had arrived, I knew something was brewing,” said Ms Male.

She said the school fleet was dispatched to the bus rank and elsewhere to collect pupils adding that around 8am only seven were missing who had to be collected from as far as Metsimotlhabe.

Ms Male said Botswana Examinations Council granted the school permission to start the day’s examination 30 minutes late.

All St Joseph’s College pupils sitting for examinations managed to write without any further disruptions, she said.

Ms Male encouraged parents to assist or make alternative transport arrangements for learners.

“We are indebted to the parents for assisting to make sure that candidates arrive at school for their examinations,” she said.

She said the strike happened at a critical period which called for every effort to be made to ensure learners were not disadvantaged.

A Sidilega Private Hospital employee,  Ms Babedi Ratshipo,  could not make it to work yesterday.

Found stranded at the bus rank, she said after failing to get transport, she got a lift to the terminal but got stuck there.

Ms Ratshipo said finding alternative mode of transport was going to be a challenge pointing out that combi operators made it hard for  commuters  to get lifts.

Another commuter, Mr Goabaone Mabedi of Gabane urged government to stop the strike warning that people could end up losing their jobs.

Mr Mabedi, a Security Services employee, said if the strike continued many would be forced to stay home which would eventually affect the whole community and the economy as well.

He requested the operators to consider the ill saying some patients would miss doctors’ appointments.

For his part, Mr Kamogelo Matebu, a bus customer fetcher, said the strike had already  affected him financially.

He said usually around 10am he would have made P20 for bringing a customer to a long distance bus ‘but today is a totally difficult and different day’.

Mr Matebo said customers were hard to find since no combis were allowed at the bus rank.

People came in private vehicles straight to the bus, he said. ends