In the face of ongoing taxi strike violence that has disrupted public transportation in Cape Town, Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis released a statement confirming that 75 MyCiTi bus routes are currently being escorted by Cape Town law enforcement.
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis claimed that the top priority of the City amid the taxi-strike violence is the safety and security of commuters.
Also read: Taxi strike update: Violence flares up in parts of Cape Town
To assess the effectiveness of the measures being implemented, the mayor personally boarded a MyCiTi bus that travelled from Mitchells Plain Town Centre to the Civic Centre station in Cape Town.
‘Earlier this morning, I joined a MyCiti bus travelling from the Mitchells Plain Town Centre to the Civic Centre Station in Cape Town to monitor and check on the efforts of our city’s law enforcement agencies to keep commuters as safe as possible. This is our number one priority at the moment,’ he said.
To provide a secure environment for commuters, Cape Town law enforcement has taken on the responsibility of escorting over 75 MyCiTi bus routes across the city.
‘We want to make sure that those commuters who are trying to get to and from work and move around the city and those operators like MyCiti and Golden Arrow are able to do so safely and without harassment from the taxi industry, so we are escorting as many of those vehicles as possible. In fact, today we are escorting more than 72 bus routes around the city so that commuters can do that absolutely safely in our city,’ the mayor explained.
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis emphasised that the City would not negotiate with a taxi industry that resorts to violence, ensuring that law and order are upheld while protecting the interests of residents and transport operators.
He expressed his appreciation for the efforts of law enforcement agencies to keep commuters safe during these challenging times.
‘The ride was safe and smooth. Thanks to our law enforcement staff. It’s heartwarming to see residents travelling safely.’
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Picture: Screenshot / City of Cape Town / Facebook