Golden Arrow Bus Service will deploy more busses following the closure of the Bellville to Paarl taxi route. The MEC for Transport and Public Works, Daylin Mitchell, indicated on Friday, July 23, that the route will be closed for two months, due to a spike in taxi-related shootings in the province.
More than 70 people have already been killed in taxi-related shootings since the beginning of the year. According to Mitchell, commuters will also be able to use the existing Metrorail train services between the two areas from Monday, July 26.
Meanwhile, in light of the recent taxi violence, the provincial Standing Committee on Transport and Public Works will meet on Thursday, July 29.
The Democratic Alliance’s (DA) committee spokesperson on Transport and Public Works in the Western Cape, Ricardo Mackenzie stated that it is important that the government conduct oversight of the work of all roleplayers to bring the violence to an end so that commuters can travel safely.
“More than this, we recognise that the issues facing the taxi industry cannot be seen in a silo. We need a broader view of the position of public transport as a whole in the Western Cape because our priority remains residents’ safety and convenience in their commutes,” Mackenzie said.
Mackenzie says that they have invited the City of Cape Town, the national Department of Transport, PRASA, SANTACO, SAPS, Golden Arrow, MEC Albert Fritz (Community Safety), and his department, and MEC Daylin Mitchell (Transport and Public Works), and his department, to the meeting.
“All of these important stakeholders have shown a keen interest in the meeting and a sincere willingness to move forward for the benefit of the province,” he added.
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Picture: Cape {town} etc gallery