Photo: Twitter / @TrafficSA
Organisers will pay for damages caused by violent taxi protest, says City
‘Instead of heaping misery on law-abiding citizens, these associations should do some introspection on their actions and behaviour, and how they can bring about a positive change,’ said JP Smith.
Photo: Twitter / @TrafficSA
The City of Cape Town condemned the would-be peaceful protest by taxi associations that got off to a violent start on Thursday, 24 March. The metro vowed that protest organisers would be held liable for the damage to infrastructure.
LIVE UPDATES: Cape Town taxi strike
CITY CONDEMNS VIOLENT TAXI PROTEST
MayCo Member for Safety and Security JP Smith said the City was angered by the public violence and the attempts “by criminal elements” in taxi associations that attempted to force their strike on all other forms of public transport.
“We have tried our very best since early this morning to prevent the violence and to protect commuters and private vehicles, but it is impossible to safeguard every kilometre of road and to escort every private vehicle in the affected areas this morning,” said Smith.
He added that the City was perplexed that the South African Police Service (SAPS) allowed the march to continue despite the permission for it being withdrawn.
SANTACO announced that CATA and CODETA were granted permission for a peaceful march to the office of the Western Cape Premier on Thursday to deliver a memorandum of grievances.
The protest started violently and there were reports of damaged vehicles, burnt Golden Arrow buses and sporadic violence across the city. The taxi operators also brought the N2 highway to a standstill on Thursday morning.
Smith believes if it were not for the interventions of the City’s law enforcement entities, the damage chaos would have been worse.
The City of Cape Town recorded the proceedings on Thursday and said any damage to private property or public infrastructure would result in civil and legal action against the protest organisers.
“We have said it in the past, but it bears repeating – we cannot exempt any group from the provisions of the National Road Traffic Act and the City’s by-laws.
“Instead of heaping misery on law-abiding citizens, these associations should do some introspection on their actions and behaviour, and how they can bring about a positive change.
“Stoning and petrol-bombing other transport and service vehicles is not the answer,” said Smith.
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