SANTACO has announced the immediate end to their week long strike. The taxi body says it is the result of ”painstaking deliberations and immense pressure” on all parties involved.

A meeting between SANTACO, Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and Premier Alan Winde seems to have been the catalyst needed to end the strike.

The #TaxiStrike is over 🙏 pic.twitter.com/oRpJeHP7ZK

— Geordin Hill-Lewis (@geordinhl) August 10, 2023

The week long strike has been immensely damaging, with hundreds of thousands of children missing school, businesses not operating due to staff constraints, and the loss of income to many working class citizens.

Five people have been killed, including a British doctor, more than 120 suspects have been arrested, and nearly 200 criminal cases have been opened since the strike erupted last Thursday afternoon.

Several Golden Arrow buses and countless other vehicles were torched, and public facilities vandalised.

SANTACO has however continuously distanced itself from the acts of public violence, blaming opportunistic criminals.

The taxi body says as part of the resolution reached between the Taxi Industry
and the Government, there is an agreement that the next 14 days will be utilised to work
towards the release of the vehicles that they believe were wrongly impounded.

There has been a brewing spat between the City of Cape Town and the National government about the legislation that permits vehicles to be impounded.

The City says it is acting within the parameters set by National traffic legislation, while government claims the City is overstepping the mark, and imposing its own rules.

ALSO READ: Police say 5 people, including British man, killed amid taxi strike