SANTACO seeks interdict to release impounded minibus taxi’s.

The South Africa Taxi Council (Santaco) has gone to court to seek an interdict to force the City of Cape Town and Western Cape Government to release recently impounded minibus taxis.

Santaco’s provincial chair Nceba Enge explained the organisation’s petition in a 27-page affidavit filed in the high court.

PICTURE: SANTACO

Santaco wants the court to force the City of Cape Town to abide by the terms of an agreement reached by the parties on 10 August, which led to the end of a a weeklong stayaway by the industry in the province. Santaco wants the City of Cape Town and Western Cape Mobility Department to impound only the minibus taxis provided for in the agreement.

The agreement, Enge said, was that taxis should be impounded if they did not have operating licences, where a driver did not have a professional driver’s permit or driver’s licence and when the vehicle is unroadworthy.

Santaco secretary Ryno Saaiers said their lawyer “confirmed that the issue is on the roll for today [Thursday]”.

Western Cape’s Mobility MEC, Ricardo Mackenzie, said: “Making the agreement an order of court today [Thursday], will put an end to misinformation about the exact terms agreed to. We have been concerned by misleading information circulating about a moratorium on all impoundments, which is not correct and creates the conditions for confrontation between officers and minibus taxi drivers or operators.

“Our priority is to continue working together as government and industry leadership to ensure that commuters have safe, reliable and affordable transport options,’’ added Mackenzie.

SANTACO’s Second Deputy Chairperson, Gershon Geyer, said judgment will be given at midday on Friday.

Done By: Mitchum George