Taxi strike called off

Taxis are back on the road today following an intervention by the provincial African National Congress (ANC).

Thousands of commuters were left stranded after the Cape Amalgated Taxi Association (Cata) and Congress of Democratic Taxi Associations (Codeta) withdrew their services on Monday over a dispute with the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco).

Their grievances included a call for a pre-elective conference for Santaco. They also want to be subsidised by the government.

ANC representatives met with the affected taxi organisations last night and party spokesperson Khaya Yozi said both Cata and Codeta had agreed to end the strike.

“They were able to say look it’s fine; we will stop the strike temporarily and operate up until we feel like these issues are not addressed and someone is taking us for a ride. So that is the amicable solution that was resolved yesterday. That is why you now have taxis operating.”

Mr Yozi said they also addressed the pressing issue of Santaco leadership.

“Santaco here in the Western Cape, according to them, has not been effective in addressing their challenges. They used the word it has been defunct. They (taxis) are pushing for an early conference so that as regional structures they can elect their own leadership that knows these challenges which they’re facing.”

He said their intervention was aimed at finding a lasting solution.

“Our intervention yesterday was through our two MPLs Cameron Dugmore and Nobulumko Nkondlo who are both serving at the subcommittee of transport and infrastructure. They will be able to meet up with the MEC as senior officials including those of national government and the representatives of Santaco and the Cata and Codeta taxi organisations to try and speedily come up with solutions.”

He said a task team had been set up to deal with the issues raised by the taxi operators.

No arrests have yet been made after Golden Arrow buses were torched in Khayelitsha yesterday. Taxi operators have distanced themselves from the alleged arson attacks.