Bus set alight in Cape Town taxi strike

2011-03-15 07:48

Cape Town - Violence continued overnight in Cape Town's minibus taxi strike when a bus was set alight and cars stoned, the city's traffic department said on Tuesday.

The bus driver was injured and admitted to hospital, said spokesperson Kylie Hatton.

Protests turned violent in Mfuleni and Nyanga on Monday morning. Fifteen people were arrested in Mfuleni for public violence where a Golden Arrow bus was stoned.

Taxi commuters were left stranded in Cape Town when Santaco members embarked on a strike to protest against the red tape and "sloppiness" around the issuing of operating licences by the provincial government, and to protest against "draconian" traffic laws.

Santaco secretary general Philip Taaibosch said authorities regularly impounded taxis without good reason.

He said the strike would continue until the Western Cape provincial government addressed key complaints from taxi industry.

He said more than 120 taxis had been impounded and some were at risk of being repossessed because owners were unable to pay instalments.

A meeting was scheduled with Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele for midday on Tuesday in an attempt to reach an agreement.

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