- Title: SOUTH AFRICA: Minibus operators stage protest over lost World Cup business
- Date: 22nd April 2010
- Summary: PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA (APRIL 21, 2010) (REUTERS) POLICE VEHICLES IN FRONT OF PROTESTERS POLICE OFFICERS POLICE TRUCK WITH OFFICERS ON TOP MORE OF POLICE OFFICERS MINIBUS OPERATORS MARCHING PROTESTER HOLDING A PLACARD READING ' WE ARE SICK AND TIRED' POLICE OFFICER WITH A GUN WIDE OF PROTESTERS AND POLICE POLICE LINED UP WIDE OF PROTESTERS MORE OF PROTESTERS MINIBUS OPERATORS FLAG PROTESTERS WITH BANNER WITH DEMANDS WRITTEN PROTESTERS BEHIND A FENCE POLICE OFFICERS MORE OF PROTESTERS NATIONAL TAXI ALLIANCE LEADER READING MEMORANDUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHAIRPERSON, NATIONAL TAXI ASSOCIATION, FRANCIS MASITSA SAYING: "It is not our business to disrupt the World Cup nor do we even contemplate doing that." POLICE TALKING ON PHONE MORE POLICE OFFICERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHAIRPERSON, NATIONAL TAXI ASSOCIATION, FRANCIS MASITSA SAYING: "The minister has not been prepared and willing to the party so our business is not the disruption of the World Cup. We will never disrupt any event that comes once in our life time we are equally patriots in this country, but we are here to give effect to the fact that citizens and as taxpayers and as people involved in the industry we are concerned that we are not included in favour of the tenderpreneurs." TOURISTS WATCHING PROTESTERS BEHIND FENCE MORE OF PROTESTERS BEHIND FENCE
- Embargoed: 7th May 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: South Africa
- Country: South Africa
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVABBUR80Y0X3UOODOH1MRLZ1H4L
- Story Text: Thousands of protesting minibus drivers blocked morning traffic in South Africa's capital on Wednesday (April 21), saying they would lose business during the World Cup.
The drivers say they have been excluded from transport planning for the billion dollar soccer tournament and that a new mass transit bus system will take away their livelihood.
Little public transport was provided for the black population under apartheid and they were forced to rely on the minibuses to get from distant townships to their places of work.
South Africa has used World Cup investment to address this problem, by trying to create an efficient, cheap bus system to reach sprawling townships like Soweto.
The minibus drivers, notorious for violence and bad driving, have thrown rocks at cars during previous protests but the demonstration in Pretoria on Wednesday was largely peaceful. The drivers blew the vuvuzela trumpet used by football fans and shouted slogans.
"It is not our business to disrupt the World Cup nor do we even contemplate doing that." said Francis Masitsa the chairperson of the National Taxi Association (NTA).
Heavy forces of riot police and armoured vans were deployed to control the demonstration which caused big rush hour congestion.
The area around the Union Buildings, which houses the offices of President Jacob Zuma and government ministers, was cordoned off by police.
"The minister has not been prepared and willing to the party so our business is not the disruption of the World Cup. We will never disrupt any event that comes once in our life time we are equally patriots in this country, but we are here to give effect to the fact that citizens and as taxpayers and as people involved in the industry we are concerned that we are not included in favour of the tenderpreneurs." added Masitsa.
Tenderpreneus is a term used in South Africa to describet businesmman who enrich themselves through government contracts.
Government officials say the minibus drivers will benefit from hundreds of thousands of domestic and foreign fans attending the World Cup and their fears over the bus system are exaggerated.
Leaders of the minibus drivers have promised not to disrupt the World Cup.
But demonstrators said the government must respond within a week. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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