Santaco, the South African National Taxi Council, has taken legal action against the City of Cape Town by filing an urgent application for an interdict in the Western Cape High Court. This move comes after the council claimed that taxis were impounded just days after reaching an agreement with the city. According to Santaco, eight taxis were impounded on Friday and six on Saturday, allegedly for the wrong reasons. The council argues that the minibus taxi industry is essential for the country’s economy, serving as the preferred mode of transport for many commuters and contributing to tax revenue and employment.
Santaco is seeking the release of the impounded taxis and an interim order to ensure that the City of Cape Town and Mobility MEC Ricardo Mackenzie comply with the terms of the agreement signed last week. The council accuses law enforcement officials of targeting the minibus taxi industry and impounding vehicles based on arbitrary quotas. It claims that these officials are acting in breach of their code of conduct and enforcing the law selectively.
Earlier this month, Santaco organized an eight-day strike to protest against the impounding of numerous vehicles for various infractions, including failure to display registration number plates. The council’s deputy chairperson in the Western Cape, Gershon Geyer, confirmed that the legal papers had been filed and would be addressed in the High Court.
In response, the City of Cape Town’s mayoral committee member for safety and security, JP Smith, expressed concern over Santaco’s alleged misrepresentation of the agreement to taxi owners and drivers. Smith emphasized that the impoundment of vehicles was in accordance with the National Land Transport Act and accused Santaco of creating confrontational conditions on the streets.
This confrontation between Santaco and the City of Cape Town highlights the ongoing tensions and grievances within the minibus taxi industry. The legal action taken by Santaco seeks to address what it perceives as an abuse of power and overreach. As the case unfolds in court, the outcome will have implications not only for the taxi industry but also for commuters who rely on this mode of transportation.
