In Cape Town, South Africa, violent protests over the taxi strike have claimed the lives of five individuals, including a 40-year-old British national and a police officer.
The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) had previously called for a week-long strike.
Drivers who participated in the strike did so in protest of what they saw as “heavy-handed tactics” by police enforcement.
Following the strike, which was deemed to pose a serious security risk, the UK issued a travel advisory for South Africa.
After talks between Santaco and the Democratic Alliance-led provincial government collapsed, the taxi strike is anticipated to go on.
Meanwhile, the immediate release of minibus taxis seized by the local government has been ordered by Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga.
She claimed that the city’s use of the law had been improperly applied and carried out.
Taxi drivers and owners complained that their vehicles were singled out and detained for infractions as small as failing to buckle up or using the emergency lane improperly, while other drivers received only penalties for the same violations.