GOOD Party calls for SANTACO to take urgent steps to end CT taxi war

CAPE TOWN - The GOOD Party is calling for the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) to take urgent steps to put an end to the taxi war in Cape Town.

Deadly tax-related violence flared in the city this week, claiming the lives of five people at taxi ranks in Philippi East, Khayelithsa, and Macassar.

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  At least nine other people, including a school pupil, were injured in the attacks.
  
  The shootings are linked to a feud between taxi associations CATA and CODETA over a route from Mfuleni and Khayelitsha to Somerset West.
  
  The provincial government, which recently held a peace summit, has signalled that it wants to approach the court for an urgent order to force the rival taxi associations to settle their differences peacefully.
  
  Failure to do so will result in the shutdown of taxi operations.
  
  However, the GOOD Party's Brett Herron said a showdown between government and taxi associations was the last thing the commuters and the province’s economy need.
  
  "What is required right now is leadership and intervention, and SANTACO is best placed to provide both. A SANTACO delegation addressed the recent peace summit and is well-versed on the local route disputes.

"As the national representative body of the minibus taxi industry, it makes most sense for SANTACO to take the lead in implementing the good faith commitments made at the summit."