GOOD Statement by Brett Herron, GOOD Secretary-General:
The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) must take urgent steps to extinguish the taxi war in Cape Town that reignited this week, just days after what appeared to be a constructive peace summit. Three people were shot dead and six wounded in two separate incidents, in Philippi East and Khayelitsha, this week.
The Western Cape Government, which convened the peace summit, has signalled that it wants to ask the Court to issue an urgent order forcing rival taxi associations, Cata and Codeta, to settle their differences peacefully. Should they fail to do so, the province says, it will effectively shut their operations down.
Brave talk, but the last thing Cape Town needs is another showdown between local authorities and taxi associations. We’ve been down that road many times in the past, with very negative outcomes for commuters, infrastructure and the economy.
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.
It alone has the power to quickly stop what’s been a simmering war exploding into a raging fire – with yet more devastating consequences for consumers.
GOOD Electoral Performance: GOOD contested its first national elections in 2019.
Shadowfax
Boerewors — spicy South African sausage [boor-uh-vors] Meaning ‘farmer’s sausage’, this term describes a savory sausage that was developed by the Afrikaners approximately 200 years ago. Boerewors is usually ‘braaied’ and eaten on a hot dog roll with tomato sauce and mustard. Make sure you roll the ‘r’ when pronouncing this word.
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Fun South African Fact: The Dutch and the British fought over South Africa.