Crushing taxis not bad

YOUR editorial “Squashing taxis hurts the poor” (Cape Times, September 9, p8) refers. The piece is misguided and cannot be allowed to go unchecked.

Firstly, it is disingenuous to suggest that the “livelihood of many poor people was reduced to bundles of scrap” with the destruction of the unroadworthy sedan taxis. These vehicles are not fit to be on the road and have been gathering dust at our pound in Maitland for years – some as far back as 2010.

Secondly, the City is under no obligation to liaise with taxi organisations about the disposal of vehicles. This is a matter between Cape Town Traffic Services and the vehicle owners, no one else. So I fail to see where this supposed “shock” emanates from.

In fact, in the last year, the relationship between the City of Cape Town and the Kiki Murray Sedan Taxi Association has improved drastically, to the extent that the City is currently helping them upskill their drivers who do not have driving licences (of which there are many) by assisting with additional dates and help to apply for and do learner licence and driving licence tests.

However, if we were to pause and contemplate the state of the taxi industry, I would suggest that the editor look to the national government for the failure to address the fundamental issues plaguing the industry.

The allegation that the taxi industry is neglected because it is predominantly black is an indictment of the national government no less. Furthermore, the City did not pen the National Road Traffic Act which stipulates that unroadworthy vehicles be removed from the roads – it is national legislation.

The issuing of operating licences, the other big bone of contention, is not a City competency either – it is a competency of the Provincial Operating Licensing Board.

Perhaps you should consider an alternative headline: “Squashing taxis saves lives”. Residents of Nyanga and other areas where sedan taxis operate are not second-rate citizens and should not have to be satisfied with second-rate vehicles and second-rate safety.

Alderman JP Smith

Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, City of Cape Town