Talks on taxi dispute stalls, stay away set to continue

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IN the recent violence protest by taxi industry in the City of Cape Town, the taxi umbrella South Africa National Taxi Council [Santaco] has distanced itself from the torching of buses. 

Speaking on Ukhozi FM, Santaco national spokesperson, Rebecca Phala, said their members are not part of the violence and if their members are caught demolishing or burning buses, the law must take it’s course.

Since Thursday afternoon incidents of violence were reported across the metro where at least six buses and an ambulance were burned down.

The protests have affected scores of commuters including students.

Stranded commuters had to walk kilometres to their destination and some slept at taxi terminals in town.

Phala said their association had no alternative but to halt operations because law authorities were impounding taxis.

“In the past weeks, Cape Town government has been impounding taxis for no good reason. There are numerous taxis which were seized by officials and that made it difficult for us to operate. If taxi drivers makes slight mistake they impound the taxi,” she explained.

She added: “We agreed on withdrawing all taxis because we have noticed that all these taxis will be taken. Owners are still paying for these taxis, if we are not working we won’t be able to pay for them”.

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Recently, Santaco representatives were at loggerheads with law officials trying to come up with solutions.

However, the marathon meeting was fruitless and a stay-away is set to continue until Wednesday. 

The bus company obtained an urgent temporary court interdict on Sunday against Santaco in a bid to halt threats, intimidation and damage to it’s fleet in the province.

“It is with great disappointment that we must announce that the talks between the government and the Santaco leadership, which took place in an attempt to resolve the cause for the taxi stayaway, was suspended,” said Santaco’s leadership in a statement.

Here is an update on the suspension of our services. pic.twitter.com/R4C2wzfRu6

— SANTACO (@SA_Taxis) August 6, 2023