The labour federation’s spokesperson, Matthew Parks, says operators in the industry should enjoy the same level of state support as those operating in other modes of transport.
“But of course then we need a formalised industry in exchange, the industry must abide by all the tax laws, pay their taxes must abide by the traffic laws like any other commuter and also the taxi workers themselves, the drivers, their labour rights must be respected.”The South African National Taxi Council in the Western Cape says it will file a court interdict on Monday to stop the City of Cape town from impounding its members taxis.
The association has accused the city of impounding several minibus taxis over the weekend, despite last week’s agreement not to do so. Last week, Santaco embarked on a week long strike, after the city traffic officials used a new bylaw and the national land transportation act to impound taxis for various offences.Santaco Western Cape General Secretary, Ryno Saaiers says they can’t rule out the possibility of another taxi strike.
Saaiers says, “So the city has already broke the agreement with us. First and foremost we don’t want to strike but if we don’t have a choice it will get to that point we hope not, that the interdict will run its course, because the city is not playing the game. They say one thing in the news and in the negotiating table its complete different thing. We hope we don’t need to go to the streets again because everybody is losing, but if we don’t have a choice that is what must happen.