Photo Esssay: Taxi drivers vent in streets of Pretoria

A large convoy of taxis moved slowly through the city, causing traffic chaos.

Photo: Striking taxi drivers demanding the closure of Uber during a taxi strike in Pretoria. Picture: Daily Maverick

Stopping outside the National Department of Transport, the National Taxi Alliance President Francis Matsitsa called for the Minister of Transport Joe Maswanganyi to be fired.

Photo: Striking taxi drivers make their way through the streets of Pretoria. Picture: Daily Maverick

Photo: The convoy of taxis moves through Pretoria. Picture: Daily Maverick

Taxi operators are saying the minister is ignoring their demands, which include better quality taxi ranks and a subsidy for operating a minibus taxi.

Photo: A protester who was part of the taxi protest is seen drinking a beer as the convoy of taxis moves through Pretoria. Picture: Daily Maverick

The protesters moved on to the Union Buildings and were accompanied by a large contingent of police.

Photo: A taxi driver waves a knobkerrie as he hangs out of the window of a car that was part of the taxi strike convoy. Picture: Daily Maverick

Photo: Members of the South African police form a line outside the Department of Transport as taxi drivers protest outside. Picture: Daily Maverick

Photo: A striking taxi driver is blocked by the fence separating the Union Buildings from the lawns below. He holds up a sign demanding the removal of Uber. Photo: Daily Maverick

After delivering a memorandum of demands which was accepted by an official from the Presidency, the protesting taxi drivers dispersed peacefully.

They vowed to return to the streets if their demands were ignored. DM

Main photo: Taxi drivers are seen protesting outside the department of Transport demanding that Transport Minister Joe Maswanganyi be fired. Photo: Daily Maverick