The Western Cape Government indicated that the province’s average conviction rate for taxi-related crimes stands at 5.3%. This was revealed during submission to the legislature’s Standing Committee for Transport & Public Works, that out of 168 arrests made in connection to taxi violence only 9 cases resulted in convictions since 2018.
The Democratic Alliance’s (DA) committee spokesperson for Transport and Public Works in the Western Cape, Ricardo Mackenzie says although figures showcase that the criminal justice system is under immense strain and seemingly unable to deal with the crimes committed, local government will make sure that it’s done just like the promising signs of stability since the MEC for Transport and Public Works Daylin Mitchell closed the B97 route between Mbekweni and Belville.
“In my capacity as Chairperson of the Committee, I will be inviting the Head of Detectives, the National Prosecution Authority, and the national Department of Justice to brief us at the legislature on the poor conviction rate and the reasons why it is so low. And what more is being done about this so that a very clear message is sent to criminals that this kind of behaviour won’t go without consequences,” Mackenzie said.
He added that there are still 84 cases of taxi violence on the court roll which have accumulated over the past three years, however, these cases are not limited to that of murder or attempted murder, but also situations of intimidation, extortion, possession of firearms and conspiring to commit murder.
” Moving forward, we support the provincial inter-departmental cooperation between Community Safety and Transport & Public Works through the activation of the Court Watching Brief Unit. The Unit is set to monitor cases of tax-related crimes, providing oversight of police conduct and reporting on any inefficiencies detected,” Mackenzie added.
Meanwhile, another Golden Arrow bus driver was shot and wounded on Friday, July 30, while travelling on the N2 near Nyanga.
#TaxiViolence Continues in Cape Town.
Police say it looks like the incident where a bus driver was shot occured on the N2 just after 7am and the target was a minibus taxi driving alongside the Golden Arrow bus. The gunman missed the target and hit the bus driver instead.
— Athi Mtongana (@Artii_M) July 30, 2021
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Picture: Cape {town} etc gallery