Violent taxi strike brings Cape Town to a standstill
Protesters attack unfortunate biker in chaos
Cape Town residents awoke yesterday to chaos on the roads as a provincial taxi strike turned violent.
Taxi associations said operators were unhappy about industry leadership as well as the impounding of vehicles by authorities.
Morning commuters were forced to use alternative transport. According to Bronwyn Dyke-Meyer from Golden Arrow bus service‚ their vehicles had become targets. Buses were stoned across the city and one was set alight.
Golden Arrow identified Nyanga‚ Delft and certain areas of Khayelitsha as hot spots. There were also concerns about violence in Wynberg and Du Noon.
“We have had some reports of passengers with minor injuries‚’’ said Dyke-Meyer. “... We are working with law enforcement where we can. We’re doing our best to make sure everyone can get to work.’’
Golden Arrow operates about 1 100 buses in Cape Town.
TimesLIVE witnessed a group of protesters chasing after a biker on the N7.
A group of about 100 people blocked the highway with burning debris. They stoned cars and buses, and turned on Jaco Prins‚ who was on his motorbike, after he drove through a barricade.
He was stoned and a protester hit him with a pole. Luckily Prins managed to escape with minor injuries.
“These are thugs next to the road. That’s not taxi people there. That’s political unrest‚’’ Prins said.
To add to the chaos‚ Metrorail’s Western Cape spokeswoman Riana Scott reported that four trains in the northern area had been cancelled after train crews were affected by the strike.
Jessica Shelver‚ spokeswoman for the provincial education department‚ said the strike would have a “significant impact” on pupils who had to travel to school.
Jay-Jay Maans‚ chairman of the Retreat Taxi Association‚ condemned the violence. His association operates 106 vehicles.
“We have had a peaceful stayaway,” he said, before promising they would be “back at work at noon”.
“We are not interested if they want to continue with the strike.’’
Maans said a delegation of taxi associations would meet with transport MEC Donald Grant to discuss their grievances. –