SANTACO: Taxi strike will continue today

The violent taxi strike will continue on TODAY until a moratorium on impounding taxis is instituted.

SANTACO SAID THE TAXI STRIKE WILL CONTINUE ON TODAY

The SA National Taxi Council (SANTACO) said it would not suspend the fatal taxi strike that led to road closures and chaos in Cape Town this week.

Cape Town – #TaxiStrike Highway routes are OPEN with no obstructions / blockages – High Risk areas at present include Langa and Dunoon pic.twitter.com/iUDIRsWzaS

— TrafficSA (@TrafficSA) August 10, 2023

The strike, sparked by protests by taxi drivers against a clampdown by city officials against traffic offenders, including impounding their vehicles, disrupted traffic on the N2 highway, causing delays at Cape Town International Airport and causing schools and clinics to shut.

FIVE PEOPLE INCLUDING A BRITISH NATIONAL HAS BEEN KILLED IN THE VIOLENT STRIKE

Five people have been killed in the violent taxi strike thus far.

Here are the deaths recorded:

• A 40-year-old man, a British national was shot and killed at the Ntlangano Crescent, Nyanga on Thursday.
• A LEAP officer was shot and killed while on duty on Friday at 20:15, Miller Road in Nyanga.
• A man was killed on Saturday in Mfuleni.
• A man was was shot and killed on Monday, on Airport Approach Road.
• A man was shot and killed on Monday on Borcherds Quarry Road, Nyanga.

ALSO READ: British national shot and killed in violent taxi strike

SANTACO said in a statement on Wednesday evening that it held a brief meeting with the National Minister of Transport on the 9th of August 2023 at 18:30.

SANTACO SAID IT WILL APPLY FOR AN URGENT INTERDICT FOR THE RELEASE OF ALL IMPOUNDED VEHICLES

“She indicated that she is currently engaged in discussions with the Western Cape Government via the office of the Premier Alan Winde.”

STATEMENT

Taxi operations in the Western Cape remain withdrawn. We wish to apologize for the inconvenience that this causes to our commuters.

Read the full statement below. pic.twitter.com/tw6unU8A7P

— SANTACO (@SA_Taxis) August 9, 2023

It furthermore said SANTACO had engaged the services of lawyers to apply for an urgent interdict via courts for the release of all vehicles that have been impounded and to interdict the City of Cape Town and Department of Mobility from impounding any more vehicles until all matters have been resolved.

ALSO READ: UK issues travel warning over Cape Town taxi strike

“With this in mind, we appeal to all our members to be patient and allow us to complete this process. The application will be lodged within 48 hours and we will, therefore, not operate until this process are completed.

“We apologize for any incontinence this might cause to our commuters and public at large. We will keep you informed of any further developments.”

SANTACO

ALSO READ: Taxi Strike: Do you have a FLIGHT from Cape Town TODAY?