The City of Cape Town intends to sue the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) for damages resulting from an eight-day strike earlier this month.
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis told News24 that all departments are calculating the full cost of damages to vehicles and infrastructure, along with the additional policing costs incurred during the violent strike.
This comes as a three-day taxi task team imbizo, aimed at addressing months of disagreements between the industry and local government, commenced on Monday.
Also read: Taxi task team to start three-day workshop today following violent protest
Hill-Lewis added that while the City, WCG and Santaco had reached an agreement to end the strike, it did not absolve the taxi industry of responsibility for the damages caused.
‘We have every intention of pursuing civil action to recover these costs and to make sure those responsible for the violence and damage are held both criminally and financially liable,’ said Hill-Lewis.
The strike was triggered by the City impounding numerous vehicles for various infractions.
Santaco disputes the City’s allegations and denies responsibility for the damages, asserting that they instructed members not to engage in violent activities.
Santaco WC General Secretary Ryno Saaiers said that should the association receive a legal letter from the City, it would seek legal advice.
‘We instructed our members from the beginning of the stayaway to not engage in violent activities,’ said Saaiers. ‘Our members were told to park their vehicles, and we do not take responsibility for the damages caused.’
The police reported that around 466 vehicles were damaged during the unrest, resulting in six deaths. Among the damaged infrastructure is a City deport that was petrol bombed and the Nolungile Community Health Centre at Site C in Khayelitsha that was torched.
GroundUp reported recently that the strike cost the Western Cape economy an estimated R5 billion and at least R18 million in damages in the City of Cape Town alone, according to Western Cape MEC for Mobility Ricardo Mackenzie.
Mackenzie said that 38% of businesses faced challenges in maintaining their daily operations, 72% experienced declines in revenue and 19% witnessed more than a 50% drop in their daily income.
Poor areas were impacted the most, with 16% of businesses indicating that workers could not travel from Khayelitsha, he said.
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Picture: City of Cape Town / Facebook