[imagesource: Twitter / @TrafficSA]
It’s too late for the thousands of commuters who were stuck bumper to bumper this morning, but perhaps this warning can save somebody a traffic migraine.
A taxi strike in Cape Town is causing major backlogs on the N2, and there are also reports of buses being set alight and some vehicles being stoned.
Mayoral committee member for safety and security in the city, JP Smith, said a planned protest by two taxi associations had been approved.
However, Smith says things have taken a turn, reports TimesLIVE:
“There have been reports of buses set alight in Nyanga as well as of taxis blocking the N2 roadway in the vicinity of Khayelitsha and Kraaifontein. Emergency services and policing agencies are on the scene.”
Golden Arrow Bus Services said in an alert to commuters posted on its Facebook page, “unfortunately it has been a rough morning across Cape Town. There have been incidents targeting our buses and as such please be aware that we may have to make diversions and other difficult safety-related decisions.”
According to IOL, the taxis are protesting grievances which include “the impoundments of taxis, unfair requirements for the release of impounded taxis and other issues directly affecting the Cape’s taxi industry”.
There are an estimated 2 000 taxi operators expected to take part in the strike, with the majority operating routes that depart from Nyanga and Khayelitsha.
Footage of the protest has been shared all morning with people advised to avoid the N2 Inbound at all costs:
The N2 to Cape Town has now been brought to a standstill. #CATA and #CODETA TAXI ASSOCIATIONS STRIKE. Taxi bosses now convening before the convoy #eNCA pic.twitter.com/CnblvyHGLo
— Nobesuthu Hejana (@Nobesutu_Hejana) March 24, 2022
Cape Town – N2 Inbound: #TaxiStrike AVOID this route towards central Cape Town via @ChumaniMo @StephenGrootes pic.twitter.com/oIRZf7OX88
— Rob Beezy (@TrafficSA) March 24, 2022
A bus commuter just sent this, their bus was stoned while driving past a group of taxi drivers #TaxiStrike pic.twitter.com/ROolmlff4o
— Veve (@LudidiVelani) March 24, 2022
Cape Town commuters were once again dealt a heavy blow as two of the biggest taxi associations caused havoc, torching buses and bringing early morning traffic on the N2 freeway to a grinding halt.
🎥 @NdamaneAyanda
Read the full story here: https://t.co/ALx6K1zHWS pic.twitter.com/x5UduGCL4S— IOL News (@IOL) March 24, 2022
Cape Town – N2 Inbound: #TaxiStrike pic.twitter.com/uF08wn4IoH
— Rob Beezy (@TrafficSA) March 24, 2022
#RIOTS As received-
24/3/22
Footage of striking taxi drivers on N2 in Cape Town this morning. pic.twitter.com/7a263AZjXd— Ian Cameron (@IanCameron23) March 24, 2022
#Taxistrike from Cape Town N2 pic.twitter.com/AI6z4Tmwo6
— Arthur Kenzo (@Nelhamstrong) March 24, 2022
From the 1:45 mark below, you can see some involved in the strike clashing and threatening passing vehicles:
From N2 as it happen @TrafficSA #Taxistrike pic.twitter.com/0GOLBeO4Zp
— Arthur Kenzo (@Nelhamstrong) March 24, 2022
Thankfully, a degree of order does appear to have been restored:
Police restoring order in N2 Cape Town #Taxistrike pic.twitter.com/9ze2md0gk8
— Arthur Kenzo (@Nelhamstrong) March 24, 2022
The taxis blocking traffic have led to multiple road closures. EWN says these routes are among the most affected:
- N2 at Spine diverting onto Spine Road
- N2 inbound at R300 diverting onto R300
- N2 inbound at Borchers’s Quarry diverting onto airport approach and Nyanga/Gugulethu areas
Eventually, taxi operators that fall under the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) and the Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (Codeta) will march from Hanover Street to the provincial legislature in Wale Street to voice their concerns to Premier Alan Winde.
Here’s hoping all employers whose staff have had a nightmare morning on the way to work show some understanding.
