The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) in the province will support EFF’s planned national shutdown but will not be joining in the protest action.
Also read: National shutdown: Court interdict is a publicity stunt says EFF
The EFF called for the shutdown in protest against an array of problems faced by South Africans including loadshedding and unemployment while also calling for the resignation of Cyril Ramaphosa.
Santaco said that it had not been approached by the EFF to participate in the planned shutdown. “As such Santaco Western Cape will not be participating in the shutdown,” said the taxi organisation’s provincial spokesperson, Mandla Hermanus.
He added that “some associations had been approached and it would be up to them to decide whether to participate or not”.
In February, Santaco threatened to embark on a stayaway amid a litany of grievances including the “unfair impoundment of minibus taxis for minor traffic violations by drivers” and the lifting of a moratorium on metered taxi operating licences which resulted in the distribution of new licences for e-hailing taxi services.
However, the protest action was called off following a successful meeting between Santaco and the Western Cape department for mobility.
Meanwhile, the Land Party South Africa in the Western Cape has encouraged support of next week’s shutdown and was critical in the DA’s decision to apply for an interdict.
“The Land Party asks landers, fighters, taxi associations, black and coloured communities, gang leaders, workers, the poor, backyard dwellers, the landless people, civil organisations, churches and progressive forces to unite against DA [Democratic Alliance] racism in the Western Cape,” read the party’s statement, adding that the DA “has been using this tactic in the Western Cape collaborating with the Cape high court to deny poor communities a right to protest”.
On Tuesday, Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis emphasised that the City’s court application was “against any attempts to incite or participate in looting, vandalism, and disruption as part of the EFF’s ‘national shutdown’ protest”.
“Everyone has the right to democratically protest in South Africa, but it is undemocratic and unlawful to threaten a shutdown of public life, and for businesses to stay closed or face dire consequences,” said the mayor.
Also read:
WC Government threatens legal action and CT mayor seeks interdict
Picture: EFF / Twitter