Hout Bay residents hit by City and taxi dispute

MANY Hout Bay residents were left stranded yesterday as local taxis were not operating owing to a dispute between taxi operators and City officials over the impoundment of vehicles.

Taxi drivers took to the streets in Imizamo Yethu and burned tyres, and incidents of public violence were reported after vehicles were allegedly pelted with stones and had petrol poured over them.

Road closures in the morning included Victoria Road towards the local police station and Constantia Nek towards Hout Bay’s main road.

Mayco member for urban mobility and ward 74 councillor Rob Quintas said the impoundments were due to unroadworthy and unlicensed taxis.

Quintas condemned the violence, saying it was instigated by those who “are happy to drive unsafe vehicles and who operate illegally”, which also led to conflict among various legal operators.

“It must be stated unequivocally that the roadblocks and checks on taxis are to ensure that commuters are being transported in safe and roadworthy vehicles, that the drivers of these vehicles have valid driver’s licences and that they have the necessary public driving permits which is a requirement when driving public passengers, and that the taxis have the necessary permits and are not operating illegally on a route, which causes conflict within the minibus taxi industry.

“Our City services have committed where possible to arrest and charge perpetrators of public violence,” said Quintas.

According to Hout Bay Taxi Association spokesperson Samkelo Krweqe, the problem began on Wednesday when some taxi operators were allegedly assaulted by officers who claimed the drivers were obstructing their work.

“An operation was done to inspect vehicles and we agreed to it. However, there were altercations with some drivers because the officers accused them of obstructing their work.

“The traffic officials then started impounding vehicles that also have permits to be on the road.

“It’s 10 vehicles with permits that were also impounded between Wednesday and today. So our problem is how they treat it, and when we react we are called names. It seems that what they did in Nyanga they want to also do here.

“We did not operate today and a meeting is expected tomorrow or next week.”

Krweqe also confirmed that they would be part of the Western Cape’s SA National Taxi Council (Santaco) taxi shutdown expected on Monday and Tuesday.

Santaco provincial chairperson Mandla Hermanus announced on Wednesday the action that would be taken following the suspension of the Blue Dot taxi programme.

Mobility MEC Daylin Mitchell said: “While I understand and share the leadership’s concerns, in a meeting this (Thursday) morning I again requested that they call off the planned shutdown.

“Any shutdown of minibus taxi services will have a devastating effect on many aspects of the Western Cape and cannot be condoned.”