By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Western Cape SA National Taxi Council (Santaco) lodged an urgent application for an interdict against City of Cape Town and Western Cape provincial government preventing the impounding of their vehicles.
Santaco have accused the City of Cape Town and the provincial government of reneging on an agreement struck last Friday after at least six vehicles were impounded over the weekend.
The taxi association staged an eight-day strike earlier this month to protest against the impounding of dozens of vehicles for a range of infractions, including a failure to display registration number plates.
Santaco argues in its papers that the taxis were taken in for the “wrong reasons”, and it is seeking the taxis’ release.
“The minibus taxi industry plays an important role in the economy of the country. Besides being the preferred transport mode for most commuters, it’s also a significant contributor to tax revenue and employment,” Santaco submitted in the papers.
It is seeking an interim order, directing the City and Mobility MEC Ricardo Mackenzie to abide by the provisions of the agreement they had signed last week after a tense standoff with the metro over impoundments.
“The urgency and necessity for the present application and the relief we seek are exacerbated by information that has emerged over the past few days. It appears that law enforcement, under the direction of the City and MEC, not only targets the minibus taxi industry, but indeed [has] quotas to be met in respect of the number of taxis that should be impounded,” the council said.
Santaco added that law enforcement officials were acting in breach of their code of conduct and enforcing the law on an arbitrary basis.
In response, the Western Cape Government and City of Cape Town says Santaco’s interdict application is an opportunity to make the full terms of the agreement an order of court.
” As per the agreement signed by all parties, impoundments continue under the National Land Transport Act for vehicles driving without an operating licence, drivers license or PDP, or which are not roadworthy.”
All six vehicles still impounded from last weekend are in line with the agreed offences of driving without an operating licence, drivers license or PDP, or unroadworthiness, read the joint statement.