WORLDWIDE TAXI FOCUS from South Africa
CAPE TOWN CABBIES’ STRIKE CAUSES CHAOS AND FIVE DEATHS
Taxi drivers in Cape Town, announced a week-long strike on August 3, causing chaos in the capital, as minibus taxis are the main means of tran- sport for the country’s commuters. The strike was in response to what the drivers described as ‘heavy-handed tactics’ by police and city authorities. They claim due to a new city byelaw, their vehicles are being impounded for minor offences, such as not wearing a seat belt, overloading, lack of registration plates and valid licensing documents; whereas other motorists are just being issued fines. South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) published a statement saying: “6,000 taxis had been impounded this year, which “paints a very clear picture” that there was “a deliberate attempt to destroy the taxi industry with no regard to the impact this action will have on the communities we service.” The strike comes after talks between the Western Cape government (WCG) and SANTACO broke down. Tensions between taxi operators and the City of Cape Town had been simmering for weeks and finally boiled over with reports of incidents of violence and protestors blocking off roads, vehicles being set on fire and city-owned buses torched. With hundreds of taxi operators taking part in the strike, thousands of stranded commuters have been forced to walk for miles to get home. There have been chaotic scenes as people forced their way into buses in a desperate attempt to get home. As the strike continued, the violence increased, with buses, trucks and private cars being stoned and torched by rioters. Five people have been killed in the growing unrest and public disorder. Among the dead was 40-year old British surgeon, Kar Hao Teoh, who was on holiday with two relatives and is believed to have taken a wrong turn when he drove into Nyanga township close to the city’s international airport. The vehicle was approached by a group before a gun was
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fired and he was shot and killed. SA police minister, Bheki Cele, said the murders and the violence were being investigated. City facilities in the targeted areas have been closed in the interest of the safety of staff. SANTACO had told it’s members not to participate in any acts of violence. SANTACO Western Cape chairperson, Mandla Hermanus, said his organisation was demanding a review of the byelaws under which taxis are impounded and a commitment by the provincial government to support formalisation efforts by the taxi industry. SANTACO has distanced itself from the violence and said such acts were fuelled by protesters, not its members. The office of the City of Cape Town said the strike had severely affected people commuting to work and at times left them stranded due to attacks on public transportation services. “In Cape Town, violence will never be tolerated as a negotiating tactic. We reiterate our call on SANTACO to return peacefully to the negotiation table,” said city mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis. On August 10, SANTACO announced that the strike was called off with immediate effect after a resolution was reached with the government. Under the deal, the city will continue impounding vehicles that aren’t roadworthy, operate on incorrect routes or don’t have the required licences. A Task Team will draw up a list of other major offences within 14 days that would warrant taxis being seized. The focus in the Task Team will be to ensure that all traffic offences that impact on commuter safety remain as major offences. A list of minor offences will also be drawn up. These offences do not have commuter safety implications and therefore will not be impoundable. “Road safety for commuters and other road users is a non-negotiable,” the city said in a statement. “SANTACO has agreed that never again will they call a strike during the middle of a working day, and that they will always give at least 36 hours’ notice ahead of planned strike action.” On reaching a resolution, Mandla Hermanus, said: “On the fundamental issues, we seem to be finding each other. We apologise to the public for the distress and the inconvenience.”
SEPTEMBER 2023 PHTM
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