The South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) in the Western Cape has denied claims of an unofficial taxi go-slow in Cape Town. On Friday, the Western Cape Mobility Department alleged a go-slow after finding limited to no taxi operations at several Cape Town ranks during early morning monitoring. The department then dispatched teams to various taxi ranks to assist commuters facing long queues and provide information on alternative travel options.
SANTACO, however, emphasized that all information relating to taxi operations and service disruptions should first be verified through its office or official hotline before being communicated to the public. SANTACO's Makhosandile Tumana expressed concern that statements are being released without prior verification with SANTACO Western Cape. He urged everyone who issued a statement to try to communicate with SANTACO before releasing any information.
The recent wave of clashes between rival taxi associations, the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) and the Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (CODETA), has claimed about a dozen lives in a dispute believed to centre on a route linking Delft, Langa and Epping. The violence disrupted operations at Cape Town International Airport, where at least 60 mainly domestic flights were delayed by up to an hour, although no cancellations were reported.
Tumana warned that unverified statements about taxi operations could create unnecessary panic and confusion among commuters. He reminded the premier and all government stakeholders of a media statement issued by SANTACO, requesting that all information relating to taxi operations, service disruptions, and industry developments be verified directly with the SANTACO Western Cape general secretary or through the official SANTACO hotline.
The Western Cape Mobility Department's teams were dispatched to various taxi ranks to assist commuters and provide information on alternative travel options. This came as public transport services had been disrupted due to the taxi violence. The department's efforts aimed to minimize the impact on commuters and provide them with reliable information on available transport options.
The clashes between CATA and CODETA have had a significant impact on the region, with lives lost and flights delayed. The situation has also raised concerns about the safety and reliability of public transport in the area. SANTACO's call for verification of information before release highlights the need for accurate and reliable communication in such situations.
Operations at Cape Town airport have since returned to normal, and the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) had contingency measures in place to ease delays. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of verifying information before releasing it to the public, especially in situations where public safety and transport are concerned.
Key points
- SANTACO urges verification of information through its office or hotline before release to the public.
- The recent taxi violence in Cape Town resulted in about a dozen deaths and disrupted airport operations.
- The Western Cape Mobility Department dispatched teams to assist commuters and provide information on alternative travel options.
