Taxi strike: City of Cape Town GRANTED urgent interdict

In what is considered a victory for the City of Cape Town, Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has announced that they have been granted an urgent interdict against the taxi strike.

As per the order from the High Court in the Western Cape, nobody is allowed to block or obstruct any flow of traffic on public roads, which has been the case since the taxi industry began its stay-way. The taxi industry in the mother city came to a standstill recently after the City of Cape Town decided to enforce a by-law that allows traffic officials to impound minibus taxis as opposed to issuing fines to offenders.

BREAKING: The City has obtained an urgent interdict this evening in #TaxiStrike. The order says no person, vehicle, taxi or driver may obstruct, interfere or block any vehicle on any public road, throughout the City, or harm passengers, or delay or impede the flow of traffic. pic.twitter.com/xdjiV5m0JK

— Geordin Hill-Lewis (@geordinhl) August 7, 2023

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TAXI INDUSTRY ‘RENEGED ON COMMITMENTS’

The City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Rob Quintas, has echoed Hill-Lewis’ who said no negotiations would continue unless the lawlessness and violence stops. Quintas claims the taxi industry reneged on its promise to find ways to end the taxi strike.

Quints says the City remains committed to resolving the SANTACO strike and are calling for calm and an end to the public violence.

“Unfortunately, the minibus-taxi industry has reneged on commitments to finding a peaceful resolution to the strike which has seen an increase in disruption and violence early this morning, at the start of a new work week. It is absolutely tragic that thousands of households cannot earn a living and are prevented from commuting to work, and even to school, because of the sustained attacks on other public transport services across the city. There can be no discussion or negotiations for as long as the violence and intimidation continues”

The City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Rob Quintas

AT LEAST TWO KILLED IN TAXI STRIKE – SAPS

At least 2 people are reported to have died in seperate incidents during the Cape Town taxi strike on Monday, 7 August 2023. According to the SA Police Service (SAPS), in the first incident, some was killed after a motorist allegedly shot at people who were stoning vehicles. While a second person was killed on Borcherds Quarry Road near the N2.

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