By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The South African National Council (SANTACO) announced on Thursday evening that the taxi strike was called off with immediate effect.
The announcement comes after the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape government put forward a “very reasonable” proposal during negotiations on Thursday afternoon.
Santaco’s members in the Western Cape embarked on a seven-day stayaway last Thursday.
The strike has been marred by incidents of violence, with at least five people dying in actions linked to the stayaway.
Taxi association Western Cape Chair Mandla Hermanus said the immediate cessation of the stayaway comes after “painstaking deliberations and immense pressure” on all parties involved.
“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 were wrongly impounded.
“A heartfelt thank you goes out to each and every one of you for your patience, resilience, and unwavering resolve during these challenging times. We pledge our ongoing commitment to serve our communities with integrity, ensuring such incidents do not repeat in the future,” said Hermanus.
Hermanus also conveyed condolences to the families of the five people, including a 40-year-old British national and a police officer, who died in the deadly taxi strike by minibus taxi drivers which began on 3 August 2023.
“On behalf of Santaco Western Cape, I convey our sincerest condolences to the families of those who tragically lost their lives during the stay away. We stand with you in this time of grief and offer our profound sympathies.
“We also extend our heartfelt sympathy to everyone who was negatively affected by the events of the past days. It deeply saddens and disappoints us that it took this long for all parties to find a resolution. The wellbeing of our community and the public at large has always been our top priority, and it pains us to witness the unnecessary pain and suffering that transpired, “Hermanus said.
Meanwhile the insurance industry has warned that South Africa faces the risk of even more tensions and blowouts in the months to come.
This is according to professional services and consulting firm Aon’s latest State of the Insurance Market report for South Africa, which outlines the significant shifts that have been seen in the country and how they have impacted one of the biggest financial services industries.
According to the group, one of the biggest shifts in the market globally and in South Africa relates to growing instances of civil unrest.
Globally, the onset of the war between Russia and Ukraine in February of 2022 proved to be a seismic geopolitical event with tragic direct and indirect consequences – most importantly, loss of life and senseless destruction.
While the impact of the war has spanned across the globe, the volatility in markets had a severe knock-on effect that will be felt for years to come.
Notably, Aon said, the war has resulted in global insurers hardening for the first time since the September 11th attacks in the United States – and it is continuing to harden.
For South Africa, the global issues around riots, strikes and terrorism insurance are exacerbated by local troubles.
Aon said there has been a marked increase in conflicts, civil unrest and economic pressures. This has limited the number of underwriters in operation and has led to significant losses in the market.
It warned that South Africa is currently operating in a troubled political climate and that tensions are likely to rise with the national elections coming soon in 2024.