Cape Town - Law enforcement agencies are on high alert for possible violence as a today shutdown by the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) begins this morning.
With millions of commuters expected to be left stranded due to the taxi associations withdrawing their services throughout the province, commuters have been asked to make alternative transport arrangements.
The shutdown is not only envisaged to affect the travelling of workers, but will put a dent in the province’s economy and disrupt school learners currently sitting for exams.
Santaco is demanding a review of the by-laws under which taxis are impounded, and the suspension of the Blue Dot programme. It also demands that the provincial government commit to supporting formalisation efforts of the industry.
Meanwhile, Santaco chairperson Mandla Hermanus has warned taxi operators in the province against the burning of buses and municipal vehicles and any criminality activity. He also cautioned against the intimidation of other private vehicles.
Education MEC David Maynier said districts had made contingency plans for matric candidates who were not able to reach their designated exam centres due to the disruptions.
He said if this happened, learners must go to their nearest exam centre where they would be guided to ensure that they could write their exams.
However, other forms of transport are expected to operate as normal. Urban Mobility Mayoral Committee Member Rob Quintas confirmed the MyCiTi service would operate as per the normal time schedules.
Prasa acting regional manager Raymond Maseko said they were expecting more commuters to take trains over the next two days.
Maseko said Prasa had sufficient capacity on both the Northern and Southern lines, adding that operations would start as early as 4.30am to check the readiness of the systems.
Golden Arrow Bus Services spokesperson Bronwen Dyke Beyer said Monday and Tuesday’s operations would be guided by the authorities.
Police spokesperson Novela Potelwa said police deployments would focus on possible disruptions and violence to alternative modes of transport at the disposal of commuters and road users, as well as other infrastructure. Potelwa said a contingent of detectives would be on standby to investigate opened cases.
Safety and Security mayoral member JP Smith said the City’s enforcement services would be deployed in support of the police. Smith appealed to Santaco to ensure that any action, protest, or proceedings were peaceful.
Department of Transport and Public Works spokesperson Jandré Bakker said if any public transport operators transgressed the conditions of the operating licences, which included provisions on violent behaviour, the department would take the appropriate disciplinary steps through its provincial regulatory entity, which could lead to the suspension or even cancellation of the operating licences.