Taxi group denies torching buses
THE Minibus Taxi Industry Task Team has denied involvement in the torching of two buses and a truck in Cape Town.
Congress of Democratic Taxi Association spokesperson Besuthu Ndungane said taxi operators did not attack the Golden Arrow buses.
“We provide services to the public. It would be incorrect that we would be expected to take responsibility for the buses that have been torched. We don’t even know their schedule or how they were torched ,” he said
Ndungane said mayco member for transport and urban development Brett Herron must account to the taxi associations and commuters.
Golden Arrow spokesperson Bronwen Dyke-Beyer said two buses were set alight in Khayelitsha, while a third attempt was made in Delft.
As a result, the bus service in Khayelitsha was suspended and the service in Delft operated only on the outskirts. It costs R2.5 million to replace a bus. “We are most concerned about the thousands of passengers whose lives have been unfairly and unnecessarily disrupted.
“We would like to sincerely apologise to every one affected and to reassure our passengers that we are doing everything possible from our side to minimise disruptions,” she said
Herron said: “The torching of two Golden Arrow buses appears to be directly linked to the decision by the minibus taxi industry to withhold their services.
“The challenges Metrorail is facing has displaced thousands of commuters to roadbased public transport, with the minibus taxi industry being one of the key service providers. Our commuters are the worst affected by this strike action, and either arrive late or cannot get to and from work to earn a living,” he said. Many commuters were left frustrated at the minibus taxi ranks, not knowing how to get to work.
.ANC provincial secretary Faiez Jacobs called for a permanent resolution to the taxi industry’s various challenges and concerns, saying there must also be permanent solutions to train security and operational challenges for MyCiTi and the rest of the bus transport system.
“We would like to remind all stakeholders, including community members, of the importance of the transport system for the well-being of our societies, and the consequences of disruptions or destruction of this transport system for the users and society,” said Jacobs
It is still not clear when the taxi strike will end.