A two-day strike by taxi owners belonging to the South African National Taxi Association (Santaco) in the Western Cape province has turned violent, with the burning of three buses and the commandeering of a fourth bus, official said on Monday.
Cape Town city council safety and security official JP Smith said “cowardly attacks” were launched on some public transport vehicles early Monday morning in Khayelitsha township when two Golden Arrow buses and a MyCiTi bus got burnt.
“It has become the norm for certain role players within the public transport sector to attempt to destroy the competition and burn out competing public transport vehicles,” Smith said.
Santaco staged the protest in response to the suspension of Cape Town’s Blue Dot Taxi initiative – which rewarded good behaviour and passenger service – due to lack of funds.
The organisation is also seeking a review of city by-laws which have seen scores of its taxis impounded by city authorities.
Smith said law enforcement officers have been deployed on buses to ensure the safety of passengers.
A Golden Arrow bus was hijacked but later rescued by undercover police officers, South African Police Services (SAPS) spokesperson Novela Potelwa said.
He said SAPS deployments would focus on possible disruptions and violence to alternative modes of transport available to commuters and road users as well as other infrastructure.
NM/jn/APA