The City of Cape Town has suspended its Dial-A-Ride service in Nyanga, Phillipi, Crossroads and Samora Machel following the alleged taxi violence on Friday, 18 March.
The Dial-A-Ride is an essential service for commuters with special needs who cannot make use of conventional transport.
According to the City’s Mayoral Committee for Urban Mobility, Rob Quintas, the City cannot risk the lives of passengers and its staff while the violence continues.
“It’s very disheartening to think that these individuals with special needs, who are most vulnerable and dependant on the City’s assistance, have to be left stranded in difficult economic times. With the service now being suspended, residents do not have certainty about their transport to work or important appointments,” Quintas said.
Quintas further indicated that the City will only resume operations once it is safe to do so as they are monitoring other volatile areas and may need to suspend the service in other parts of the city as well.
“The service provider will keep users informed. I appeal to all to remain calm as the violence will not solve anything, in fact, it will only make matters worse and must stop,” Quintas added.
Meanwhile, the Golden Arrow Bus Service has also suspended its operating service in Nyanga after two of its buses were torched during alleged taxi violence.
According to a statement by the bus company, they had no option but to institute these measures as their main priority is the safety of their passengers and staff.
“Unfortunately we have had to move out of Nyanga completely and are operating from the N2/Borcherds Quarry. Khayelitsha buses also have diversions in place but officials will be on the scene,” the statement said.
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Picture: COCT