Cape Town - Thousands of taxi commuters, motorists and road users are expected to be affected by a planned strike by the taxi association umbrella body SA National Taxi Council (Santaco).
Santaco advised Western Cape commuters to make alternative transport arrangements for the planned strike on Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 November.
Santaco provincial chairperson Gershon Geyer confirmed the planned “stayaway” action.
“The taxi industry will embark on a stayaway in response to the lack of prioritisation for the transformation of the public transport service. This will take place on Monday and Tuesday.
“We demand the following: a review of the by-laws under which taxis are impounded; funding for the expansion of the Blue Dot (taxi incentive programme); commitment by the Western Cape government to support formalisation efforts by the taxi industry. We urge commuters to make alternative transport arrangements. We apologise for the inconvenience this action may cause,” said Santaco.
Department of Mobility MEC spokesperson Jandre Bekker said a statement by MEC Daylin Mitchell would be issued “once his talks that are currently happening have concluded”.
Earlier this month, Mitchell said the Blue Dot programme needed the support of the national government, after the provincial government invested R215 million in it.
“Almost 18 months ago, the Western Cape government partnered with the provincial minibus taxi industry to roll out the groundbreaking Blue Dot taxi pilot project, an incentive programme to reward improved driving behaviour and good passenger service quality, and in a strong, positive effort to turn around instances of illegal operations and conflict. The Western Cape cabinet endorsed the pilot project in September 2020 and it went live on 15 May 2021, with the participation of approximately 800 minibus taxis distributed across the regions of the Western Cape.
“We have shown that the Blue Dot pilot project works, and works well. However, we need the support of national government to fund the continuation and expansion of this powerful pilot programme. Funding this programme is the mandate of the national department.
Where rail has almost collapsed in South Africa, this programme shows how we can make a rapid intervention to improve the public transport industry – this pilot project shows how you can change the game,” Mitchell had said.
Cape Times