The City of Cape Town says two* buses were burnt out this morning during unrest, related to the taxi strike.
*(Earlier reports from the City were corrected – only two buses were torched)
The City’s Traffic, Law Enforcement and Metro Police Departments have all been busy since just after 05:00 on Monday morning, working with the SAPS to respond to the threatened public transport shutdown and SANTACO taxi strike.
There has been fairly limited impact city-wide, other than in Khayelitsha where Pama Road, Mongezi Road, Steve Biko Road and Japhta K Masemola Road have been affected; with further limited protest action this morning on Baden Powell Drive which was quickly cleared.
The Mayoral committee member for Safety and SEcurity JP Smith says “cowardly” attacks were launched on some public transport vehicles earlier Monday morning in Khayelitsha when one Golden Arrow buses and a MyCiti bus was burnt out.
”It has become the norm for certain role players within the public transport sector to attempt to destroy the competition and burn out competing public transport vehicles.”
Two women reportedly got injured while jumping off a bus that was shot at in Khayelitsha. The City’s LEAP officers have now been deployed on Golden Arrow and MyCiti buses around the area to ensure their safety.
A Golden Arrow bus was also hijacked, with passengers inside but undercover Law Enforcement officers were able to intercept the bus and arrest the hijacker.
”In line with the precedent set in Nyanga where the City and SAPS confirmed that they will not tolerate taxi violence and the destruction of public infrastructure and other public transport vehicles, the City will intensify its operations in Khayelitsha over the next days, which may well lead to the impoundment of a significant number of taxis.”
Commuters and transport operators experiencing disruptions are urged to contact the SAPS on 021 4660011 or the City of Cape Town’s emergency number 107 alternatively 021 480 7700
The driver of this MyCity bus was allegedly forcefully removed from the bus by unknown persons and the bus set alight. #TaxiStrike pic.twitter.com/GKvNaJ60bt
— MEC Daylin Mitchell (@mec_mitchell) November 21, 2022
Cape Town – #TaxiStrike Burning Bus (2nd one) in the Khayelitsha area https://t.co/OpeZFaeBzQ
— TrafficSA (@TrafficSA) November 21, 2022
Meanwhile, the Western Cape Education Department says contingency measures are in place to assist matrics during the SANTACO strike.
Two high enrolment subjects – Life Sciences and Geography – are being written today and Tuesday, along with a number of smaller subjects.
32 868 candidates are due to write exams Monday, and 27 154 Tuesday.
MEC David Maynier says where matric candidates are prevented or unable to reach their exam venues, they can go to their secondary nearest exam centre to write. Extra exam papers and stationary will be available.
