Cape Town law enforcement authorities remain on high alert after three suspects believed to be at the centre of the taxi strike were arrested with petrol bombs in Delft on Monday.
Cape Town taxi strike: Three alleged anarchists arrested
The South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) is on a two-day shutdown in response to the Western Cape government’s decision to cancel the Blue Dot initiative.
Commuters in and around Cape Town were forced to find alternative means of travel on Monday morning, while some companies allegedly encouraged employees to sleep at work to avoid capacity loss.
In Khayelitsha, at least two buses, a unit each from Golden Arrow and MyCiti, were torched by gun-wielding perpetrators. Fortunately, no passengers were injured in the tense riots, albeit several sources reported hearing gunshots in and around the vicinity of the arson attack.
In a statement, Cape Town police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa confirmed that in their efforts to curb the taxi violence, the provincial Flying Squad intercepted a Toyota Quantum carrying three suspects armed with petrol bombs.
According to Brig Potelwa, the minibus and a sedan were seen in pursuit of a furniture delivery van on Delft Main Road. Following a brief chase, police managed to force both vehicles off the road and what they found speaks volumes about the scale of destruction that would have seized Cape Town streets.
“Thirteen petrol bombs were discovered and the suspects were subsequently apprehended. The suspects between the ages of 28 and 32, are alleged to have strong links to the taxi industry and expected to appear in court as soon as they are charged in terms of the explosives act,” Potelwa revealed.
Cape Town law enforcement teams remain planted in hotspot areas where violence may break out. Motorists are advised to try by all means to avoid travelling in and around popular taxi routes.
The Cape Town taxi strike is expected to resume on Tuesday, 22 November 2022.