Members of the public are urged against unchecked dissemination of voice notes and messages related to the ongoing taxi strike and associated violence.
In an official statement issued on Monday afternoon, 7 August 2023, as reported by IOL, Alderman JP Smith, the Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, appealed to residents to exercise discretion in sharing news. He emphasised that the team has thoroughly investigated various incidents that later proved to be misinformation.
Also read: Lives of poor and working class people upended by violent taxi strike
The statement read, ‘If you are unable to verify information firsthand, please do not distribute it, as it creates unnecessary panic, but also diverts enforcement resources from where they are needed.’
These are the verified incidents:
- Four Golden Arrow buses torched
- Four private vehicles torched
- Two trucks were torched at a City depot along Govan Mbeki Road
- City vehicle hijacked in Samora Machel
- At 5:30am, approximately 30 taxis blocked the N2 inbound at Borcherd’s Quarry – enforcement services started making arrests shortly after, with Metro Police officers also reporting that they came under fire at the location, but no injuries were reported
- Shooting at Philippi railway station
- Stoning of vehicles at Govan Mbeki and Duinefontein Road, an estimated 150 protesters engaged in protest activity.
- A protest occurred in Philippi, involving around 150 demonstrators – resulting in one vehicle being set ablaze.
- In Lansdowne and Stock Road, a vehicle was deliberately set on fire, and at Mew Way and Japhta K Masemola Road, four vehicles were ignited
- On the N2 ramp to Borcherds Quarry, shots were discharged at a Metro Police Nyala vehicle
- A demonstration transpired at Hout Bay, outside the SAPS headquarters, involving the burning of tyres and pelting of vehicles with stones.
- Taxis were confiscated and relocated along Airport Approach Road.
- One fatality occurred and three injuries, when a driver retaliated against stone-throwing by firing multiple shots.
Misleading information surrounding the taxi strike, but is not confined to:
- False Claim: Allegations of looting and imminent closures at malls such as Canal Walk, Watergate Mall and Blue Route Mall
- False Claim: A video showing a Golden Arrow bus under protester control.
- False Claim: Reports of schools being set ablaze or targeted during the taxi strike
- False Claim: Reports of an Uber driver shot at Retreat Station
The City is working closely with the South African Police Service (SAPS) to suppress these assaults and guarantee secure transit, not only for commuters but for the broader public as well.
The plea is made to individuals with information about those behind the violence to please report it to the City’s tip-off line so that the perpetrators can be brought to book.
Operational around the clock, the tip-off line allows for anonymous submission of tips at 0800 110077.
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Picture: City of Cape Town / Facebook