JP Smith addresses RUMOURS, taxi strike messages making rounds

City of Cape Town MMC for Safety and Security JP Smith has addressed rumours seeking to misguide the public about the latest concerning the taxi strike in the Western Cape.

JP SMITH ADDRESSES CIRCULATING MESSAGES

On Monday 14 August 2023, Smith noted with concern the latest messages circulating on social media.
“The City’s directorate is aware of messages being circulated, that are intended to cause misinformation and confusion. Such messages only result in unnecessary panic and must be condemned in the strongest terms,” he warned.

“We have convened the Joint Operations Centre with all roleplayers, to monitor the situation and deploy resources where needed.”

JP Smith

ALSO READ: JP Smith disputes releasing impounded taxis without payment

AGREEMENT STANDS BETWEEN CITY OF CAPE TOWN AND SANTACO

Smith said all areas are being monitored and the City will issue media statements where needed.

“Further to this, all previously expressed details of the negotiation agreements remain in place. These include the agreement from SANTACO that no strike may be called without first escalating any concerns to the Mayor and Premier, and that no strike may be called without first giving the public a notice period of at least 36 hours,” he explained.

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“Again, we implore all residents, please refrain from circulating messages that are not issued from official media accounts or reliable sources,” JP Smith urged.

ALSO READ: City of Cape Town: SANTACO agrees to never call a strike again

AGREEMENT TERMS BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES

The following was agreed upon:

• 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. We should never again see a repeat of thousands of people being forced to walk home.
• Secondly, before calling strike action, the Task Team will now have a dispute escalation and resolution clause, to escalate disputes directly to the Premier and Mayor before a strike action will be considered.

ALSO READ: Minister of Transport declares impounding of TAXIS in Cape Town UNLAWFUL