Commuters forced to use alternative transport as SANTACO WC embarks on 6-day strike

Commuters who normally rely on taxi's to go to and from work, will have to use alternative transport for the next six days.

PICTURE: Twitter - @NewsNoteNetwork

This after SANTACO in the Western Cape announced on Thursday afternoon, that it will halt all operations with immediate effect, in response to its stand-off with the City of Cape Town. Taxi operators staged a blockade at the Cape Town Station Deck on Tuesday, after fifteen taxi’s were impounded.

All regions of SANTACO in the Western Cape have resolved to recall all taxis from operating as of this moment. #EnoughIsEnough

— SANTACO (@SA_Taxis) August 3, 2023

Santaco provincial chair, Mandla Hermanus, said at a meeting of taxi operators on Thursday, that traffic officers were impounding taxis “even in the case of the offence being committed by a driver. For example, vehicles get impounded if a driver or commuter is found not wearing a safety belt”.

The strike is set to last until Wednesday, 9 August.

PICTURE: Official statement from SANTACO WC

Following the announcement of the strike, taxi operators slowed down traffic out of the CBD on all the freeways.

NDABANEWS: #TaxiStrike pic.twitter.com/ujq5GtsRey

— Thulani Ndaba (@tndaba) August 3, 2023

Meanwhile, two Golden Arrow buses were set alight at Nyanga Terminus. Spokesperson, Bronwen Dyke-Beyer confirmed the incident.

‘’As of Thursday afternoon at 2p.m, we are operationg at Nyanga SAPS as a precautionary measure. Golden Arrow plans to operate its full services but we are on very high alert and working closely with our law enforcement partners. We intend to operate until all passengers have been assisted. There may unfortunately be delays across our services, which are beyond our control.’’

Two Golden Arrow Buses have been set alight at Nyanga Terminus.
📹: @KhusiVuka pic.twitter.com/S5OdUt6lQ4

— Bushradionews (@Bushradionews) August 3, 2023

Other incidents reported includes protests near Khayelitsha taxi rank, MyCiTi bus passengers being forced off buses, two Law Enforcement vehicles have been stoned in Khayelitsha.

VIDEO SUPPLIED

Western Cape’s Mobility MEC, Ricardo Mackenzie, said he is disappointed that SANTACO embarked on a strike. Mackenzie hosted a joint media briefing on Thursday afternoon, with local and provincial government as well as SAPS on the current situation with the minibus taxi industry.

"We are worried about the impact on commuters. We've spoken to GABS, PRASA, who will put additional services. Traffic officials are working with SAPS to ensure commuters are safe. We urge SANTACO to please come back to the negotiation table, please come back to the minibus task team, where there is a space we've created to deal with grievances that they have faced over the last few months.’’

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde shared Mackenzie’s sentiments.

“We recognise the important role the mini-bus taxi sector plays in the public transport industry and economy. But calling a strike, that has been accompanied by violence, is not the answer to resolving the grievances of operators and drivers. This will be a blow to our shared economic growth and will impact the poor the hardest.’’

In response to the taxi strike, Transport Minister, Sindisiwe Chikunga, said: ''It is crucial that all parties involved in this matter prioritise peaceful and constructive dialogue to resolve the issues at hand. (I) urge all stakeholders to work together and find common ground, without resorting to violence.’’

Western Cape Police Oversight & Community Safety MEC, Reagen Allen, who was monitoring the situation on Thursday afternoon, from the Provincial Operations Command Centre, says more than 1 000 officers in various sectors, have been deployed in strategic hotspots.

''The taxi strikes that is currently unfolding are unacceptable, it is illegal and we are monitoring the hotspots to ensure arrests are made. Please bare with us, during this difficult time. We know it's difficult, but we are asking for peace and we are asking that law abiding citizens are protected during this particular strike action.’’

Meanwhile, the City of Cape Town has condemned the acts of violence, urging minibus-taxi operators and industry representatives to refrain from intimidation and violence, and disruption of other public transport services such as the MyCiTi bus service, e-hailing vehicles and other services that will be operating under pressure during the stay-away.

‘’It is regretful that SANTACO has resolved to pull their vehicles from minibus-taxi ranks as of this [Thursday] afternoon. This is no longer a peaceful protest and we strongly condemn these actions. There is absolutely no need to endanger human lives, nor for interference with other vehicles on the road,' said Rob Quintas, the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility.

Quintas says the City is not targeting minibus-taxi operators.

‘’It is simply not true that the City is targeting minibus-taxi operators. 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.’’

Santaco wants president Cyril Ramaphosa to come and address them. In response to this, Quintas said ‘’ 'We further understand that SANTACO would like the president of South Africa to personally intervene even though they were the ones who withdrew from our talks.’’

‘’We still urge 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,’’ added Rob Quintas, Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility.

 

Done By: Mitchum George