A light at the end of the tunnel it seems as a truce has been reached between taxi associations following the bloody taxi war that has claimed the lives of over 80 people over the last couple of weeks, reports News24.
The announcement was made by transport Minister Fikile Mbalula on Monday, August 2, following ongoing negotiations between the associations and officials from the Department of Transport.
It is alleged that the B97 route between Mbekweni in Paarl and Bellville is what fueled the friction between the two main taxi associations, Cata and Codeta. To help quell the violence, MEC for Transport Daylin Mitchell made the decision to close the route for two months as the local and national governments sought ways to prevent these killings.
Following discussions with the two Associations, we have reached agreement and therefore decided to implement the following measures, with immediate effect: pic.twitter.com/8JM46MeTCZ
— |Mr Fix (@MbalulaFikile) August 2, 2021
Here is a look at the measures that have been put in place:
- All legal operating licence holders for routes to and from Mbekweni, except for route B97, must commence the services as authorised by their operating licences or face the legal consequences;
- All associations must instruct their members to return to service in line with the authorities issued with their operating licences and must do so in a manner that is safe for the public when route B97 is opened;
- When route B97 is opened, only legal operating licence holders will be allowed to operate and will serve the full route from the authorised ranks and terminals;
- Affected municipalities will be requested to place a moratorium on the issuance of new operating licences and applications for additional authorities on all affected routes, while also rationalising these services;
- If the affected municipalities indicate the need for additional services on route B97, operating licences will be apportioned in accordance with the arbitration award;
- Law enforcement capacity and deployment will be reviewed and strengthened in the affected areas to ensure enforcement of all laws without fear or favour;
- Should there be further acts of violence, all affected routes operated by the two associations will be closed for all minibus-taxi operations for a period determined by the Transport MEC and affected operating licences will be suspended.
The treaty comes as a relief for communities who have been living in fear, with the Minister reiterating the government’s obligation to ensure that the rule of law prevails.
“As government, we have an obligation to ensure that the rule of law prevails at all times. We take this responsibility seriously and will not shy away from ensuring that the spirit and the letter of the law is not undermined by anyone.”
AGREEMENT SIGNED: As government, we have an obligation to ensure that the rule of law prevails at all times.
We take this responsibility seriously and will not shy away from ensuring that the spirit and the letter of the law is not undermined by anyone. pic.twitter.com/xtmuE2Yo8E
— |Mr Fix (@MbalulaFikile) August 2, 2021
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Picture: Cape Town ETC Gallery