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Municipal bus service in eThekwini, taxis throughout KwaZulu-Natal suspended amid violence

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  • Municipal bus operations have been suspended in eThekwini due to violence.
  • The riots, which started last week, have seen trucks torched and shops looted.
  • The suspension of the bus service comes as the municipality attempts to keep employees safe.


The municipal bus service in eThekwini was suspended on Monday due to violence and looting across KwaZulu-Natal.

The decision was taken in an attempt to ensure the safety of municipal employees.

In a statement late on Sunday night, the eThekwini Municipality announced that municipal bus operations would be suspended on Monday as a "result of the current civil unrest".

Taxis will also not be operating in the province for fear that "taxis... may be damaged", the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) said in a Twitter post.

Violence and looting have flared up across the province over the last few days following the arrest of former president Jacob Zuma on Wednesday.

The incidents have seen main highways blocked with burning debris, infrastructure damaged, shops looted and at least 33 trucks torched.

One person was killed and at least 62 people were arrested in the violence, which spread to Johannesburg over the weekend.

The eThekwini Municipality statement read:

In addition to the bus service, residents can expect other service delivery interruptions over the next few days. While the municipality remains committed to minimising the interruptions, the safety of employees and municipal assets remains paramount.

The municipality said it will share updates with residents via social media platforms.

"Residents are urged to report incidents of damage to public property on 031 361 0000 or 10111, as well as to their councillors. Residents are also urged to exercise caution at this time to ensure their safety and security," the statement read.


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