Taxis impounded amid safety concerns and route closures

SEVEN taxis were impounded on Wednesday amid the closure of ten contentious taxi routes between Mfuleni, Khayelitsha, Nyanga, and Somerset West following a spate of taxi-related killings.

Authorities confirmed that six taxis were seized for operating in violation of a Western Cape High Court order obtained by the provincial Mobility Department, while another was taken off the road for reckless driving.

The closures follow six deaths linked to violent clashes last month between rival associations, the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata) and the Congress Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (Codeta).

On Friday, Mobility MEC Isaac Sileku announced that the routes would be suspended for 30 days, or until both parties reach a mutually agreed-upon solution.

Codeta has since filed an urgent interdict against the closures.

While the authorities said the situation was stable, some commuters were left inconvenienced.

Two nurses finishing a night shift in Somerset West said they had trusted alternative transport would be available.

“We asked the taxi drivers on Tuesday evening if they would operate, and they said they were not sure,” said Tessa Mahlangu.

“We thought that they would, but when we got out of work after a 12-hour shift, we found out there were no buses or taxis to Khayelitsha.”

The pair eventually had to travel via Bellville to find transport home.

At Somerset West Methodist School, acting principal Dinah Meyers said she alerted parents on Monday to make alternative arrangements.

“I sent out a letter that parents must arrange for safe alternative transport to get the kids to school because we are busy with tests and assessments,” she said.

“I got a big surprise yesterday morning, and there were only two absent learners in some classes. I am very proud of the parents because they went an extra mile to get their children to school.”

Meyers said that of the school’s learners, 406 normally travel by taxi, 120 by bus, 162 by private transport, and 35 on foot.

“Very few were absent on Wednesday,” she added.

While commuters largely reached their destinations, the City’s Safety and Security Directorate has maintained a strong presence.

Mayco Member JP Smith said: “We’ve had six operators not behaving. There’s a seventh one unrelated to this particular route closure for reckless and negligent driving, and then we have a situation where taxis are violating the instructions and going to the ranks where they are not supposed to be, and that compels ongoing action from us.

“But mercifully, no violence this morning, no violent altercations, no further conflict. This is a situation we are monitoring very extensively, just over 260 staff (are) deployed in response to this incident and using aerial surveillance to monitor from the air, as well as the network of CCTV cameras along this route and at the public transport interchanges.”

Smith said Golden Arrow Bus Services (GABS) had stationed a representative at the joint operations centre in Goodwood.

“We are escorting their buses, and they have their own monitoring operation and will alert us as soon as there is any problem,” he said.

“We have a substantial amount of staff available to respond to any attack or threat on any Golden Arrow buses. We are committed to running this for five days, after which we will reassess.”

Responding to Codeta's legal action, MEC Sileku said: “We are a democratic country, so anyone has a right to go to court. But instead of investing time in finding a solution, you’re approaching the court. If I were them, I was going to make sure that we find this lasting solution. Whatever action they are taking against us as the government, we are going to oppose, because what we are doing is for the safety of the residents of this province. I did sign a replying affidavit on Wednesday, and we will wait for the court to decide.”

Asked whether there would be sufficient alternative transport during peak hour, Sileku said the morning had gone smoothly.

“During the briefing, you could hear that there have not been any issues of people not being able to get to a mode of transport. We expect the same this afternoon. GABS has committed to providing extra buses should there be a need.”

He added that the province had deliberately chosen a 30-day closure rather than a longer suspension.

“We had an option to close for 90 days, because that was the intent of my notice, and we purposefully decided on 30 days. Should we not find an amicable solution within the next 30 days, I have the right to extend. Ultimately, what we want to see is people coming back to the table so that we can get back to normality.”

Cape Times