There is no end in sight for the weeklong taxi strike in Cape Town after the SA National Taxi Council (Santaco) announced that it will continue for two more days.
This after the taxi council failed to resolve an impasse with the City of Cape Town on Wednesday night.
Santaco provincial chairperson Mandla Hermanus said the organisation is sceptical about sending taximen back to work following the City of Cape Town’s statements around further taxi impoundments.
He further the organisation first needs to ensure that conditions on the roads are conducive for drivers to resume operations.
“It doesn’t help to posture and speak with an iron fist, we have to look for solutions and we should do everything in our power [to find a resolution]. The city should work with us,” said Hermanus.
Santaco added that it has asked its lawyers to apply for an urgent court interdict to force the city to return impounded taxis and stop impounding more.
“With this in mind, we appeal to all our members to be patient and allow us to complete this process,” he said.
“The application will be lodged within 48 hours and we will therefore not operate until this process is completed.
“We apologise for any inconvenience this might cause to our commuters and the public at large. We will keep you informed of any further developments.”
Since the strike began on Wednesday last week, five people have died and more than 100 arrests have been effected.
On Monday, a person was killed and three Golden Arrow buses were torched.
According to media reports, a motorist fired shots at a group of people throwing stones at passing vehicles near the Cape Town International Airport, resulting in the death of one person. Three others were injured.
Golden Arrow said on Monday that the company has lost six buses to arson attacks since the strike began, each worth millions of rands.
A bus driver was also shot and injured in Khayelitsha last week.
Despite securing a court interdict to stop acts of violence and intimidation, the violence is continuing.
Bronwen Dyke-Beyer, company spokesperson, said: “We lost two [buses] this morning [on Monday] on the N2 near Borcherds Quarry, where the taxi blockade was happening.
“Two buses were set alight there and then one was set alight at Govan Mbeki and Symphony Way Avenue.”
