Some roads were quieter in Cape Town today as the usual morning buzz of taxis did not contribute to business as usual. Instead, the taxis and their authorities gathered in a massive strike along the N2, bringing the highway to a standstill. Their familiar buzz became a roar – a violent one.
CATA and CODETA, Cape Town’s main taxi associates confirmed they would not be operating today. They also forewarned of their march, a peaceful promise, from District Six to submit a memorandum to the Premier’s office, according to CATA Secretary-General Mandla Hermanus.
But the notion of a peaceful protest, which they were granted permission to proceed with, has not been honoured.
Since the morning strike began, multiple Golden Arrow buses have reportedly seen attacks and been torched. There has also been damage to other private property, as Daylin Mitchell, Provincial Minister of Transport and Public Works expressed and condemned. He further indicated that people had also been injured in the chaos.
“The destruction of property weakens the hand of protestors and undermines the rights of others,” Mitchell expressed.
As a safety precaution, other public transport providers are opting to suspend their commuting for safety reasons.
As a result, many people have been unable to get to work, and now businesses are understaffed.
The Newlands and Oudekraal picnic site for one have announced their closure due to staff shortage, as SANParks stated.
The mark of the taxis has been evident on the N2 at Spine going into Spine Road, N2 inbound at R300, N2 inbound at Borcherd’s Quarry extending onto the airport route and N2 Inbound on Hospital Bend as per News24. However the aforementioned have reopened, par the Hospital Bend at the time of this article’s writing.
Further, areas impacted by the violence include Bloekombow, Walleacedene and Kraaifontein where footage shows vehicles that were set alight. Reports have also surfaced of the protest moving into the CBD. Motorists and commuters have been advised to be cautious and to stay away from impacted areas.
Roughly 2000 members of the two Taxi associations are part of the march. As they move into the CBD, police have been activated.
The protest surrounds grievances that include impounding of taxis and unfair requirements to release impounded vehicles as per a CATA spokesperson.
Here is a look at what the protest has looked like:
WATCH: One of the busses set on fire by taxi operators in Cape Town this morning. #TaxiStrike #RIOTS 24/3/22 https://t.co/r9ElcIriUY pic.twitter.com/ArdBstMTZM
— Ian Cameron (@IanCameron23) March 24, 2022
As received-
24/3/22
Taxi set alight
Cape Town #TaxiStrikehttps://t.co/9n2E6q88JD pic.twitter.com/qMFyaneKgi— Ian Cameron (@IanCameron23) March 24, 2022
Cape Town – N2 Inbound: #TaxiStrike AVOID this route towards central Cape Town via @ChumaniMo @StephenGrootes pic.twitter.com/oIRZf7OX88
— Rob Beezy (@TrafficSA) March 24, 2022
The N2 to Cape Town has now been brought to a standstill. #CATA and #CODETA TAXI ASSOCIATIONS STRIKE. Taxi bosses now convening before the convoy #eNCA pic.twitter.com/CnblvyHGLo
— Nobesuthu Hejana (@Nobesutu_Hejana) March 24, 2022
Traffic has been badly affected this morning due to the #TaxiStrike. Here over a thousand of minibus taxis driving slow on the N2 heading to the provincial legislature in Wale Street. pic.twitter.com/7L06jkghJ8
— Veve (@LudidiVelani) March 24, 2022
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Picture: Screenshot from video shared by Ian Cameron