The hustle and bustle on Cape Town’s roads has resumed as mini-bus taxis make their return to the roads, following a week long strike marred by violence.

Transport authorities have welcomed the end of the strike. Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says they appreciate the constructive approach taken by minibus taxi association Santaco.

RELATED: Taxi strike called off

He says it bears noting that Santaco yesterday accepted the same proposal that the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape Government originally put on the table last Friday, but that Santaco originally rejected.

The tragic implication is that all of the violence, the deplorable loss of life, and the damage to property and to our local economy – all of it was for naught.

The agreement includes:

• Impoundments under the National Land Transport Act (NLTA) will continue for vehicles driving without an operating license, or on the incorrect route, or without a driver’s license, or which are not roadworthy. The Taxi Task Team will further define a list, within 14 days, of additional major offences in terms of which vehicles will be impounded. This will take the form of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on the exercise of the discretionary power provided for in the National Land Transportation Act and would be similar to other SOPs which guide staff in respect to other laws and procedures.
• All traffic offences which impact on commuter safety remain as major offences – road safety for commuters and other road users is a non-negotiable.
• The Task Team will similarly compile an agreed-upon list of minor offences, which do not have commuter safety implications, and which will not be impoundable. If Santaco believes that any of their taxis have been impounded for these minor offences, they can produce the relevant impoundment notices and the City will make representations to the Public Prosecutor to support the release of these vehicles.

Hill-Lewis says two ”improvements” have been added for the future:

• Santaco has agreed that never again will they call a strike during the middle of a working day, and that they will always give at least 36 hours’ notice ahead of planned strike action.
• Secondly, before calling strike action, the Task Team will now have a dispute escalation and resolution clause, to escalate disputes directly to the Premier and Mayor.

Hill-Lewis says with the agreement, Cape Town has set an important precedent for South Africa’s future.

By steadfastly refusing to capitulate before violence and anarchy, Cape Town has not conceded an inch on our commitment to the rule of law. The message is clear: in Cape Town, the laws of this country apply equally to everyone and violence will not extract a single concession from this government.

My thoughts are with our communities who bore the brunt of the violence and disruption and I want to assure them that we will continue to fight for the safety of them and their loved ones when it comes to travelling around our city.