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Taxi operators and City in a standoff regarding impoundment of vehicles

Minibus taxis in Cape Town were operating on Wednesday morning, despite there being tension on Tuesday afternoon. Minibus taxi operators on Tuesday afternoon blocked roads around the Station Deck. This after City of Cape Town Law Enforcement officers impounded about fifteen taxis.

COURTESY: CoCT


According to Mayco Member for Safety & Security, JP Smith, taxi drivers assembled on the rank and assaulted one of the Traffic Officers.

‘’The scene grew tense as several taxis took to blockading the exit route in the rank. In the stand off, SAPS Public Order Policing deployed to the scene and pleaded for the return of order. Taxis trying to enter into the rank for the afternoon peak period were prevented from entering by fellow taxi drivers and this caused widespread congestion around the rank.’’

‘’A group of opportunistic drivers intent on causing chaos, attempted to incite the crowds and numerous drivers left their vehicles in the road, causing a gridlock and adding to the frustration,’’ he added.

Smith said officers had to use stun grenades as the crowd became out of control.

The roads were open by 18:20 and operations resumed as normal.

In a video gone viral, law enforcement officers can be seen assaulting and vandalising taxi operators.

In response to this, Smith said ’’It was then discovered that several of the suspects had locked themselves in a taxi and senior SAPS officials ordered members to breach the vehicle. Officers responded by breaking a window, and removing the occupants from the vehicle,’’ said JP smith, Mayco member for safety and security.

‘’The City will not be intimidated by those in the taxi industry who react violently to any attempts to enforce national legislation,’’ he added.

In a joint statement, the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape Mobility Department, said they are disappointed that South African National Taxi Council – Western Cape (SANTACO – WC) suspended its participation in the Minibus Taxi Task Team, citing two reasons: firstly, the “increase and continuous impoundments of vehicles”, and secondly, “lack of progress on issues tabled”.

The Task Team – comprising representatives from the Western Cape Government and City of Cape Town, together with industry leadership – met on Monday for the fifth time – despite what transpired on Tuesday afternoon.

Western Cape Mobility MEC, Ricardo Mackenzie said he is shocked that SANTACO suspended its services with the two entities.

“We remain open to engagement so that we can prioritise passengers and reassure operators of our ongoing efforts to support the industry. I am especially concerned about the potential impact on commuters of this withdrawal by the industry. It comes as a shock, as we have developed a platform for robust engagement and sharing of information, while making clear progress on agreed actions. Specifically, collaborative efforts have resulted in the fast-tracking of long-awaited licence applications for the Brackengate area. Since the creation of the Task Team in February 2023, 144 positive decision letters have been handed over by our Provincial Regulatory Entity (PRE) to minibus taxi operators approving their operating licence applications.”

 “We are well aware that the industry faces complex challenges, which link to the broader transportation crisis in South Africa. The Task Team was created to bring together the relevant stakeholders and work collaboratively to address key issues identified by industry and government leadership. As the Western Cape Government, we are not sitting back with a defeatist attitude, but have made a sincere attempt to tackle these issues. Regarding the impoundment of vehicles in the Cape Town metro, there are a range of reasons for this enforcement action. These reasons include moving violations, drivers with outstanding arrest warrants or operating without licences among others. The PRE has worked hard to improve its systems and streamline the processing of applications, so that where possible operating licence issues can be resolved and not become a reason for impoundment,’’

 “We will continue our commitment to support the minibus taxi industry and improve mobility in the Western Cape so people can get to work with safe, affordable and reliable transport,” added Mackenzie.

The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Rob Quintas, assured that commuter safety remains their top priority.

‘’While we hope that SANTACO will return to the collaborative table, the fact remains that commuter safety is our core priority, and we cannot bend on matters that directly compromise safety. The vast majority of impoundments are for driver behaviour that catches the attention of law enforcement officers, and only a small percentage for the absence of an OL. Nonetheless, both Provincial and City officials have set up a dedicated support platform to assist operators with their applications. However, a process of due diligence must be applied to each application on its own merit, with safety as the overarching focus, and this naturally takes time. Simply rubber-stamping applications would make a farce of their existence.’’

 ‘’The allegation that the capacity of the City’s Public Transport Interchanges (PTIs) does not align with demand is at odds with the actuarial research findings that determine their construction. There are currently new PTIs under construction in Nyanga, Nolungile and Vuyani, and refurbishments of existing ones underway at various sites across the metro. Vehicles are impounded when found to be driving outside of their licensed routes. It makes no logical sense that if demand were exceeding supply on an authorised route, that a driver would venture outside of it, risking the impoundment of their vehicle, in search of passengers. Many vehicles have been impounded for operating outside of their licensed routes, added Quintas.

SANTACO Western Cape condemned the attack of law enforcement officers to its drivers. SANTACO believes that the city is trying to get rid of its services

‘’The brutality that police & traffic officials of City of Cape town meted on our drivers and vehicles yesterday is a continuation of what appears to be their mission to get rid of the operation of taxis in CT. It began with the introduction of unreasonable bylaws, through which they impound vehicles for minor offences and they proudly boast of this. Unfortunately, commuters are yet again at the receiving end of government's discrimination towards our industry. The PEC of SANTACO in the Western Cape is meeting all ground forces to decide how we will unreservedly respond to this racist discrimination towards our operations. A full statement will be released post our meetings.’’

 

Done by: Mitchum George

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