The EFF in the Cape Metro is calling for the immediate resignation of three top City of Cape Town officials, due to the latest taxi dispute.

In light of the rising number of minibus taxis being impounded, the party wants Safety and Security MMC JP Smith, Urban Mobility MMC Rob Quintas and Public Safety Commissioner Petrus Roberts to vacate their posts.

This comes after a leaked audio recording exposed the municipality’s alleged aggressive taxi impoundment targets. The red berets said that the impoundment of 500 taxis within in a 10-day period in October robs a vital sector of our local economy. The EFF’s Regional Chairperson, Ntsikelelo Tyandela said that the intimidating approach demonstrates a troubling abuse of power that prioritizes profit over the livelihoods of countless drivers and their families.

“They must resign immediately. That is the call that we are making as the EFF. We cannot have people sitting in those high offices, targeting the only business that we know is working for the workers, particularly from the locations and the school kids, for their interest in promoting the MyCiTi bus service,” said Tyandela.

The City’s JP Smith maintains that traffic officials are mandated to respond to complaints about taxi drivers. He added that enforcement actions are in line with the Taxi Task Team agreement.

READ MORE: Tensions between COCT & taxi associations over impoundments

“They don’t want any competition from the taxi industry. One can clearly see that there is no by-law that is being followed here. It is just a quick moneymaking scheme. It is extortion, white collar crime on its highest level,” said Tyandela.

The situation has also resulted in outrage from the the South African National Taxi Council, Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association, and other entities.