DA

DA has reported Chikunga to Parliament. Image:@Our_DA/@DOTransport

DA report Transport Minister to ethics committee

Minster Sindisiwe Chikunga’s fiery response to the taxi strike in Cape Town, has rubbed off the wrong way with the DA

DA

DA has reported Chikunga to Parliament. Image:@Our_DA/@DOTransport

The Democratic Alliance has announced that it will be submitting an ethics complaint to the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests following Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga’s conduct during the SANTACO Western Cape strike.

ALSO READ: Taxi Strike: Parents urged to take kids BACK to SCHOOL

Minister at war with the City of Cape Town

In a media briefing, Chikunga ordered for the release of the taxi’s and accused the City of Cape Town of targeting the taxi industry and improperly and illegally impounding taxi’s. The DA accuse Chikunga of siding with SANTACO and that her remarks were ‘were a calculated political move, a deliberate manipulation of this sensitive issue to benefit the ANC in the forthcoming national election.’

ALSO READ: Mother city gets back to its feet as mini-bus taxi strike ends

ALSO READ: British doctor was killed in front of son and wife in violent taxi strike

“Our submission will argue that Minister Chikunga’s intentional dissemination of falsehoods not only violated the principles of the Code but also failed to uphold the law and undermined the very integrity of Parliament”, says Shadow Transport Minister Chris Hunsinger.

Hunsinger adds that the party will be approaching the Chairperson of the Transport Committee to ensure that Chikunga appears before the committee.

“She must account for her unfounded and damaging claims”, says Hunsinger.

WHICH LAW WAS USED TO IMPOUND TAXI’S?

The DA says Chikunga had asserted that the taxi’s had been impounded under the City of Cape Towns amended traffic by-law, whereas the impounding was executed in strict accordance with the National Land Transport Act.

ALSO READ: Cabinet criticizes the Cape Town taxi strike

During week long strike, five people were killed including a British national. Around 10 Golden Arrow buses were torched, a number of shops looted with damage to infrastructure. The strike was finally called off on Thursday night following a resolution between the City of Cape Town and SANTACO.

CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLES BY APHIWE NGWENYA