Taxi driver strike turns violent

Taxi drivers in Johannesburg staged a violent strike on 24 March 2009 to protest the city's proposed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system. Reports indicate that the drivers, armed with sticks and bricks, blocked parts of the city motorway and other main transport routes, including parts of the M1 highway. Affected areas included the Booysens and Xavier Road off ramps south of Johannesburg and near the Marlboro on and off ramps in the north. Anti-riot police officers responded by firing rubber bullets in an unsuccessful attempt to disperse the crowd. At least one person was killed in a clash with the taxi drivers in the Soweto township, and some reports stated that shots were fired at people attempting to board trains as an alternative means of transportation in the city. Approximately 3,000 taxi drivers also gathered at Mary Fitzgerald Square in the central business district and marched to Beyers Naude Square to hand over a memorandum to the Department of Transport and the African National Congress (ANC) political party. The BRT system is expected to help ease traffic congestion in the city ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, but taxi drivers believe that the system will phase taxis out and could lead to job losses in the industry. The first phase of the system is expected to begin operations on 1 June 2009. Similar violent protests over the BRT system were held in Cape Town in February 2009.