The nightmare continues for commuters throughout the Cape Town metropolitan area, due to continued striking by Santaco (the SA National Taxi Council). Violence re-erupted overnight when a bus was set alight and cars were stoned. Police are monitoring the situation but it’s still very hard to catch a taxi.

Cape Town city spokesperson Kylie Hatton said this morning that police had been posted in the hotspots most badly affected by yesterday’s outbreak of taxi violence, which included stone throwing at a Golden Arrow Bus.  According to Hatton there are metro police monitoring Mfuleni, Khayelitsha, Crossroads and Nyanga.

While a few taxis are operating in certain areas, most taxi commuters were left stranded without transport again this morning.

“We are nowhere near a 50% service,” she said.

Santaco secretary general Philip Taaibosch said yesterday that Santaco members are protesting against the provincial government’s handling of the taxi industry, including unduly strict law enforcement and the lengthy process of issuing licences.

Via News24