[WATCH]Taxi Strike: Buses and E-hailing cars go up in flames
Mobility minster calls for SANTACO to return to the table and continue talking and describes the attacks on vehicles and buses as ‘barbaric’
Buses and ehailing cars have become collateral damage in the current stand-off between the South African Taxi Council (SANTACO) in the Western Cape and law enforcement in Cape Town, which has left commuters stranded and frustrated.
The ongoing taxi trike which SANTACO has threatened it will continue until next week Wednesday, 9 August, has given rise to vigilantism as private cars are stoned, with Golden Arrow Bus’s and ehailing vehicles such as Uber and Bolt being burnt.
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GOLDEN ARROW UNABLE TO OPERATE IN VOLATILE AREAS
Fire fighters have been kept busy since the start of the strike, as multiple buses have been set alight. Golden Arrow Bus Service has said it will attempt to service as many routes as posssible, however a few areas are volatile and inacessible.
ALSO READ: Western Cape taxi strike: Stay-away to last until 9 August – SANTACO
“Mfuleni is completely inaccessible and we can only operate from the outskirts. Nyanga services will operate from Borcherd’s Quarry”, the company stated on its Facebook page.
“Langa is inaccessible, all Epping services will be severely delayed. Khayelitsha services are operating from Mew Way Bridge and Corners of Spine Road and N2.”
SCORES OF VEHICLES DAMAGED BY ANGRY MOBS
ALSO READ: WATCH: N2 blocked, violence erupts in Western Cape taxi strike
In a viral video making the rounds on social media, multiple vehicles were torched on Thursday night in Langa Township, as drivers are prevented from assisting stranded people looking for means to go home.
WC GOVERNMENT CONDEMNS VIOLENT ACTS
Meanwhile Western Cape Mobility Minister Ricardo Mackenzie has condemned the taxi violence and has called on taxi bosses to call to order anyone who is engaging on criminal acts such as the torching of vehicles in their (SANTACO) name.
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“We call on them to condemn the barbaric acts and thuggish actions taking place in our communities. The burning of busses, burning of cars and stoning of vehicles should not be tolerated by any one of us including the leadership of SANTACO” says Mackenzie.