The City of Cape Town Safety and Security Directorate launched a long-awaited taxi blitz yesterday, Thursday, May 23, to deal with the successive number of unruly taxis in Cape Town.
Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security JP Smith says the complaints about negligent and dangerous driving of taxis on the city’s roads have been consistent and forthcoming.
Smith says approximately 132 000 fines are issued on a monthly basis – with most going to taxis – but still, there is no impact.
The first installment of the taxi blitz programme took place yesterday in the vicinity of Westgate Mall in Mitchells Plain with resources from the City’s enforcement agencies, namely the Traffic Service, Law Enforcement Partment and Metro Police Department.
Officers recorded 144 offences during the operation including 28 fines, 15 unlicensed drivers, 14 overloaded vehicles, 9 unlicensed vehicles and during the operation 15 taxi’s were impounded.
The blitz program was initiated due to the continuous public complaints about the reckless behaviour of public transport operators and operating license contraventions.
Officers will continue to focus on hot spot areas based on the complaints received by the public and resources are being pooled to step up enforcement of the public transport sector in what will be an ongoing and weekly operation.
Picture: Twitter/City of Cape Town
