GOOD Press Statement by Jonathan Cupido,
GOOD City of Cape Town Councillor
10 August 2023
The GOOD Party is disappointed that the DA-Led leadership in the Western Cape and SANTACO WC were unable to reach an agreement in the current impasse.
As the strike continues for another 48 hours, it is the residents that will continue to pay the price.
GOOD welcomes the decision by SANTACO to head to the courts to get clarity on the issue of impounding.
On the 8th of August, the Minister of Transport, Sindisiwe Chikunga called on the City “to immediately release without any conditions, all vehicles impounded based on operating licence and leave those impounded in terms of the National Land Transport Act of 2009.”
Chikunga remarked, “It can never be that a city will define itself outside the parameters of national laws and implement penalties that are out of sync with these laws.”
However, the city’s leadership of Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith have continued to dig in their heels, insisting they are applying the law correctly.
The arrogance of statements made by the DA politicians that “not a single taxi has been impounded under the new by-laws” was quickly exposed as a lie.
Angry Twitter users responded with images of impoundment receipts listing the by-law as the reason for impoundment.
Smith’s own words were used against him, as screenshots from his Facebook account stated “We have started impounding vehicles under the new traffic by-law”.
GOOD is calling on the accounting officers to provide clarity on this issue. The City Manager, the city’s principal accounting officer, has been remarkably quiet.
Until the issue of law is resolved, it is unlikely we will find a solution to this impasse.
GOOD calls for calm as our city cannot sustain the violence that has characterised this strike.
Media Enquiries:
Jonathan Cupido, GOOD City of Cape Town Councillor
Cell: 084 865 8122
Email: jonathanc@forgood.org.za
Samantha Jackson, GOOD Acting Media Manager
Cell: 083 550 9875
Email: media@forgood.org.za