
On Friday taxis travelling through Komani were impounded and their passengers left stranded on sidewalks, wondering how they would get home.
The taxis, along with other vehicles, were stopped at a roadblock in Cathcart Road on the first day of the national lockdown.
Some of those who had to change their plans were taxis ferrying people from Ezibeleni and private car users were asked to provide permits for their travels into town.
While some were wondering what to do next, others resorted to hitchhiking while some resorted to walk the rest of the way home.
Mandisa Mkaliphi, who was in an impounded taxi, said she wanted to spend the lockdown with her children. The Transnet employee, who was travelling to Mdantsane from Johannesburg, said the travel delays were the fault of traffic officers.
“I left Johannesburg early on Thursday morning knowing that I would be at home with my family by lockdown. We were delayed in a roadblock in Aliwal North.
“What irritates me most is that these law enforcement officials do not have a good way of communicating with citizens. They said we are bringing coronavirus into the province. I, for one, had been tested at my workplace. They have a bad attitude and I want to report this misconduct,” said Mkaliphi.
Another passenger, Wanda Ngozi, who was heading to Alice, also from Johannesburg, said he did not have money to pay for travelling costs as he had used the last cash he had.
“I do not know how I will get home because the police told us to get out of the vehicles. We are now stranded on the side of the road with luggage and nowhere else to go,” he said.
The taxi drivers who were ferrying people into the province felt hard done by by the strict measures.
“We only left Aliwal North at eight this morning. We were kept there since 1am and the only reason they let us through was because people started striking. They are telling me I had too many people in my taxi, but I do not understand what I am supposed to do,” said Winston Maliwa, whose taxi was impounded.
“Where am I supposed to get the R5000 they are demanding? I spent money on fuel and the rest I left with my employer in Johannesburg. These people (passengers) are demanding money from me and I do not know where I will get it,” said Maliwa.
Mzukisi Siko, another driver, said the issue was a crisis. “Law enforcement officials are doing the opposite of what our president announced. They are treating us unfairly.
“If they had not delayed us in Aliwal North we would have all reached our destinations in peace. Now the owner of the taxi is also fighting because the vehicle has been impounded and none of us knows what to do at this point,” he said.
A statement published on the Eastern Cape department of transport Facebook page indicated that there was non-compliance in Komani, King William’s Town, Amalinda, Mthatha and Mdantsane.
“A total of 14 vehicles (11 minibus taxis and three Avanzas) have been impounded in Komani and the operations are continuing. All our borders are closed and people must not attempt to cross, otherwise they will face the might of the law. Movement between provinces and municipalities was prohibited in the period of lockdown,” read the statement.
It further urged commuter transport services to operate in line with the regulations. “They must ensure that they are transporting only essential services workers and people who need to withdraw their grants. They must also ensure that they do not exceed 50% of the passengers they are licensed to carry.”
“We will come down hard on pedestrians found to be non-compliant. They will pay spot fines. Public transport operators found to have contravened the provisions of the regulation will have their vehicles impounded for the duration of the national lockdown. The provincial government is beefing up its team to better respond to the challenge and enforce the law where applicable.”
Additional reporting by Zintle Bobelo