Happening Now: Riot in Pretoria, Pretorius Street literally under siege & taxi drivers blocks the road (Video)

This morning South Africans woke up with reports that in  Tshwane road bus drivers trooped out in their numbers protesting over non-payment of Covid-19 palliatives and reportedly hijacked vehicles on the road.

As we speak they have taken over Pretoria with many CBD blocking the road and restricting vehicular movement in the area.

Pretorius Street in #PTACBD #TaxiStrike pic.twitter.com/u2cYWhudsV

— Chief Erican (@EricanSA) November 18, 2020

The protesting taxi drivers took over the streets of Pretoria on Wednesday morning, allegedly hijacking a bus driven by a female driver. The location of the driver and bus was still unknown by 07:00

Physically kicking us off Tshwane bus, when buses are on strike taxis operate as normal no one disrupts them kodwa bona manje @Tshwanebus2 @MbalulaFikile #Nationaltaxistrike can we please be protected, or should we accept that taxis govern themselves pic.twitter.com/QSw3TTXF3r

— Wandile Masango (@WandileMasango2) November 18, 2020

According to City of Tshwane spokesperson Selby Bokaba, the driver was not answering her cellphone and the bus could not be located.

“We suspect they (protesters) will use the bus to block the road,”

The bus was hijacked in the Orchards area, north of the city, ostensibly by members affiliated to the National Taxi Alliance (NTA), who embarked on protest action on Wednesday. The other driver managed to run away. Police and the Tshwane Metro Police Department have been notified,” Bokaba said.

“At our meeting with the taxi industry yesterday they indicated that the protest would start at 10:00 and that it would be peaceful. Hence we allowed our buses to operate early this morning and we were going to withdraw them just before the protest got underway,” Bokaba said.

“Our drivers have been warned not to operate in the Orchards area. We have also received reports of some blockages in various parts of the city, including along Solomon Mahlangu Road.

“On other routes, passengers are kicked and forced out of the buses.”

Bokaba said all buses have since been recalled to the depot.

Passenger notice : Please be informed that one of our bus has been highjacked by taxi drivers with the lady driver while on other routes passengers are kicked and forced out of the buses. With this we have to recall all our buses to the depot. @TMPDSafety @Selbybok

— Tshwane Bus Service (@Tshwanebus2) November 18, 2020