Taxi drivers to strike in Pretoria

Johannesburg - Minibus taxi drivers in South Africa's capital Pretoria will suspend operations on Thursday in retaliation after police impounded over 50 vehicles following clashes, a taxi industry official said on Wednesday.

Last week state-subsidised buses were shot at and stoned in Mamelodi township, east of Pretoria, allegedly by minibus taxi drivers demanding control of routes earmarked for the buses.

"The vehicles have been impounded since Monday. They say the offence is 'taxi violence'. In our opinion it's pure provocation," said Bafana Magagula of the South African National Taxi Council.

Magagula said the strike would be extended to Friday to include the financial hub of Johannesburg if the government did not respond.

South Africa's minibus taxi industry saw annual revenues of around $3.7bn in 2013 and accounts for nearly 70% of public transport travel, with 3.7 million minibus taxi trips made daily, according to government data.