Port Elizabeth: MyPE - Die Skote Klap

www.MyPE.co.za: This morning started out kak and just got kakker for some .....................

An early morning phone call from Wendy, our domestic, to say that the buses and taxis were on strike and she would be unable to make it to work. Then I had a half an hour in the traffic to travel 400 metres through the Mount Road Traffic Circle and across Govan Mbeki Avenue on my way to the breakfast launch of the new Nelson Mandela Bay Coffee Table Book - A Brand New Day, by Traci Mackie.

Their were policeman everywhere along the route over Govan Mbeki so I sat champing at the bit at breakfast wanting to get out into the trenches and enjoy a bit of action.

The trip back home started off quite pleasantly with not a taxi to be seen in Strand or Cawood streets.

Along Govan Mbeki there was still a large police presence and I swung in towards the North End Law Courts where embattled Taxi Boss, Melekile Hani, who was dramatically arrested earlier this month after allegedly attempting to shoot a 32-year-old taxi driver who was en route to the shops in the Port Elizabeth township, was due to appear.

Forgive me for flashing back to the bad old days of tear gas, stun guns and rubber bullets as arrayed along the front of the Law Courts was a strongly armed large contingent of police officers facing a restless bunch of taxi workers not happy that Hani had been arrested.

The SAPS ordered the protesters to disperse on a number of occasions, eventually moving toyi toying protestors down the road to Govan Mbeki Avenue. The illegal gathering then congregated in the middle of the road displaying placards, some of which read; "F*ck Government and BRT ..." as well as "Hani is a tried and tested leader of the have nots."

After one last warning the SAPS stormed the illegal gathering firing stun cartridges, arresting and piling participants in the illegal gathering into waiting Nyala Vehicles.

A section of the protesters ran into a nearby bottle store to take refuge but were hauled off to waiting vehicles - some of them clutching Fanta Browns swiped from the bottle store.

The arrested protesters were then taken up to Mount Road police station to be charged. Soon after the Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayor, Xanoxolo Wayile arrived at the Law Courts to take stock of the situation and be brought up to speed by waiting law enforcement.

One good thing - we spotted that Rare Breed, Trafficus Officervus Strikus, coming out of the Law Courts - good to see you guys again.