By: Natasha Archary
The Western Cape government says it will be considering deploying the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), due to the ongoing taxi strike in the province taking a violent turn.
This as the death toll from SANTACO’s stayaway action has escalated lawlessness, with criminal activity including the torching of vehicles.
Two people have been killed in incidents involving the stoning of private vehicles, destruction of property, acts of violence and looting that has broken out.
Western Cape Premier, Alan Winde says his government is in talks to determine whether its necessary to deploy SANDF to diffuse the situation, because the public need to be able to commute without being victim to violence.
Winde says SANTACO have been resistant to coming back to the table to discuss the issues they have in an amicable way.
“Many services, including health and social development are forced to close facilities, being unable to provide services that are desperately needed.
Schooling has been affected, people have no means of getting home to their families, to work, school, shops or clinics.
We are concerned about the violence, and SANTACO’s leadership must answer with regards to the violence associated with the strike.”
While Winde says SANTACO is showing no interest to end the impasse, taxi’s are still being impounded in the Western Cape, due to the bylaws that were the catalyst to the taxi stayaway last week.
This due to thousands of taxis being impounded owing to a number of violations to traffic laws.
Since the start of the taxi stayaway, the city depot has been petrol-bombed, 7 cars have been damaged, 3 set alight, and 6 people have been arrested.
SANTACO have vowed to continue the strike until Wednesday, 09 August.
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