The City of Cape Town, in response to the impromptu taxi strike, has deployed Metro police forces to escort buses as commuters scramble to find alternative transport.
Cape Town taxi strike: City officials rubbish SANTACO claims
During a symposium held between several taxi associations in Makhaza, Khayelitsha, on Thursday, a decision was made to immediately halt all taxi services in Cape Town, as a firm stance against the City’s newly implemented by-laws.
SANTACO chairperson Mandla Hermanus specifically blasted the City for targeting taxis and impounding fleets for trivial offences such as driving with one’s elbow resting on the window pane.
Reacting to the claims, the City of Cape Town’s MEC for Urban Mobility Rob Quintas vehemently refuted Hermanus’s assertions, stating that “it is simply not true that the City is targeting minibus-taxi operators.”
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“Instead, we find that some minibus-taxis are unroadworthy, have a record of dangerous traffic violations, drivers do not have a basic driver’s licence and some of their vehicles are linked to criminal investigations. We keep an eye on these in the interests of their passenger safety,” Quintas explained.
Responding to taxi associations’ demand to be addressed by President Cyril Ramaphosa, the City’s Urban Mobility MEC urged SANTACO “to return to the negotiations so that we can resolve these issues in a peaceful manner, in the interest of all operators, the industry in general, those employed by the industry, and most importantly, the thousands of commuters who rely on minibus-taxis to get to and from work.”
Cape Town Metro police deployed to escort buses
As a means of ensuring passenger safety during the Cape Town taxi strike, which is expected to drag on until Thursday, 10 August 2023, “the City will closely monitor routes and Law Enforcement will conduct regular patrols in the interest of the safety and security of commuters and public at large.”
“Those who rely on the minibus-taxi industry for commuting are advised to make alternative travel arrangements or arrange to work from home wherever possible over the next six days,” Quintas explained.
The City has also deployed Metro police officials to escort MyCiti buses. While no specific mention was made about whether equal protections will be afforded to Golden Arrow bus services, Quintas did confirm that the public transit company is “working closely with law enforcement.”
