By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The South African National Taxi Council’s high court application to interdict impoundments by the City of Cape Town and Western Cape provincial government has been dismissed.
The umbrella body had claimed taxis were being impounded outside of an agreement.
Santaco embarked on a stay-away earlier this month protesting against the impounding of their taxis in the City.
The protest claimed lives of at least five people.
“Having heard counsel for the applicant, the first respondent and the second respondent, it is ordered that in so far as it may be permissible in law and will not result in the contravention of any law. That the balance of the relief sought by the applicant is dismissed, that there shall be no order as to costs,” the court ruled.
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis welcomed the ruling.
“The court agreed with our request that the agreement that was signed between Santaco and the city be made as a formal order of court and that it be stuck and published by all parties.”
“Our work in the Task Team can now proceed constructively. We will be focused on passenger and commuter safety and will ensure that offences which endanger the lives of road users will remain as impoundable under a strict application of national law,” Hill-Lewis said.
Hill-Lewis said now that the order is confirmed, the entire agreement hinges on the permanent cessation of taxi-related violence.
Any revival of such violence will nullify the agreement.
The deputy chair of Santaco in the Western Cape Nceba Enge said they are happy minibus taxis can only be impounded for certain infractions.
“Which excludes the contravention of any condition imposed on Operating Licenses, which includes but is not limited to operating off-route, contrary to the position trumpet out by both the mayor and (MMC for Public Safety) JP Smith to the public, in the process unjustly vilifying the taxi industry in the eyes of the public.”
Mayoral committee member for urban mobility, councillor Rob Quintas, said the Minibus Taxi Task Team is scheduled to meet next Tuesday, August 22.
Quintas said he hopes Santaco will be represented at this very important meeting.
“There is a lot of work to do, and we need to put our heads down and focus on the task at hand. It is in the interest of thousands of commuters that we keep collaborating on matters of mutual concern.
“The City’s Urban Mobility Directorate recognises the critical role that the minibus taxi industry plays in the public transport network and regards them as partners in our goal of keeping Cape Town moving, especially in the context of an imploded passenger rail service.