GOOD Press Statement by Jonathan Cupido,
GOOD City of Cape Town Councillor
7 August 2023
The residents of Cape Town continue to bear the brunt of the impasse between SANTACO WC and the City of Cape Town.
On Sunday evening SANTACO issued a statement that talks had once again failed with the Western Cape government and that the taxi stay away would continue as planned.
Following a court order, SANTACO condemned any acts of chaos and violence by its members but also denied any liability for last week’s lawlessness.
However, the statement issued by the Taxi bosses did little to bring calm to the city’s streets.
Within hours of the Monday morning commute beginning numerous incidents of violence and intimidation were reported around the City of Cape Town.
Four Golden Arrow buses, two trucks and four private cars were torched. There were reports of vehicles being stoned, private staff transport being attacked and the N2 highway being blocked.
The DA-led government continues to hold the line that the impounding of vehicles is enforceable under the National Traffic Act, even though no other municipality is doing so.
The taxi industry feels like it is being unfairly targeted by the city’s new by-laws and the impounding of vehicles is “a continuation of what appears to be their (the city’s) mission to get rid of the operation of taxis in Cape town”.
Unfortunately, child-like comments made by the city’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith – “we will proceed with impounding 25 vehicles for every truck, bus, vehicle or facility that is burnt or vandalised” – suggests vehicles are being impounded merely to prove a point, not for the safety of road users.
GOOD agrees that the city needs rules but we maintain that all road users must be treated equally across the board.
It is the residents of the city’s informal settlements and marginalised communities that are suffering the most.
Children and teachers are unable to attend school. Healthcare services have seen interruptions. And workers have been left stranded. Their safety is threatened if they make alternative transport arrangements and employers threaten them with “no work, no pay” if they stay home.
Meanwhile, the DA voters sit in the safety of their privileged neighbourhoods demanding more taxi drivers face the might of the law.
The DA is out of touch with the suffering of the working class and poor communities. They need to do more than say they are “angry with the situation”, they need to show leadership and maturity.
The city of Cape Town has chosen to circumvent the courts by proceeding straight to vehicle impoundment instead of traffic fines.
If history tells us anything is that the city’s traffic fine system was far from perfect.
Between April – June 2023 over 18,000 traffic-related cases were struck from the court role.
Reasons included Officer Error (1,450) and Accused Identity Incomplete (8,761),
GOOD maintains that the city should rather focus on improving the existing structures of traffic law enforcement.
In May 2023, GOOD submitted a motion to the Safety and Security Portfolio, which we believe will assist traffic officers to better manage and apply the law.
The motion requested the Safety and Security Portfolio to approve an investigation into the Emergency Police Incident Control devices.
These devices are currently used by traffic officers but need to be upgraded to include fingerprint identification and spot-fine payment technology.
Fingerprint technology will allow officers to identify drivers with arrest warrants and drivers without a valid license (not those who simply do not have the card on them).
This Motion will be heard at the next portfolio meeting.
Until then, GOOD maintains the City of Cape Town and SANTACO need to put their pride aside and work together for the sake of the residents.
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