Taxi drivers protesting against the introduction of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system should accept the competition and ensure that their own business models are viable, the DA in Gauteng says.

As thousands of taxi drivers in Johannesburg made their way to the city on Tuesday morning in a protest against the BRT, Democratic Alliance councillor Ann Barnes said: "The BRT is simply competition. If you want passengers to prefer your taxi over the BRT then you have to act in an economically sound manner.

"Better advertising, improved driver safety and cheaper prices would be far more effective than striking and preventing people from going to work," she said in a statement.

United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa said local authorities were carrying the burden of the government's failure to consult.

"Minister Jeff Radebe has been warned on numerous occasions that he needs to consult," said Holomisa.

He said the UDM wrote a letter in February 2009 to Radebe and President Kgalema Motlanthe to indicate that the taxi industry had numerous concerns that were not being addressed.

"It is this same minister who has failed to properly roll out the Taxi Recapitalisation Programme, which is currently at a virtual standstill," he said.

Taxi drivers said they were concerned that the introduction of more buses could ultimately see their taxis being phased out.

Sapa