Taxi Association Clarifies Stance; Unrelated to EFF’s Planned Cape Town 'Shutdown'

The taxi industry of Western Cape refutes claims about its involvement in the planned protest called by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). The governing bodies indicated that the call belongs solely to the political entities, not the taxi industry. The South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) spokesperson, Nceba Enge, asserts the council's lack of involvement in this event but adds that any individual associating with EFF may join the shutdown in their personal capacity.

The impending protest has stirred anxiety among regular taxi commuters. As part of their concerted effort to reduce public apprehension, Western Cape SANTACO has confirmed regular taxi services during the protest. These reassurances can be traced back to an agreement reached after the August strike between SANTACO and local authorities, mandating a 36-hour notice before any strike action.

The protest, organized by EFF for Monday, October 2, aims to address a multitude of issues such as “unjust taxi impoundments,” failed service delivery, high unemployment, racist practices, overpriced electricity tariffs, and load shedding. They're rallying against what they refer to as the end of the “draconian rule & racism” of the DA-led City of Cape Town government.

Apart from EFF, posters suggest involvement from other political entities such as the United Democratic Movement and the African National Congress (ANC). It is unclear if the ANC will arrive at the protest, as they canceled their media briefing scheduled for Friday without offering a clear stance on the matter.

Reagen Allen, the Western Cape MEC for police oversight and community safety, advised of extensive law enforcement preparations to counter any attempts to cause anarchy during the protest. The city plans to employ technological measures like drones and CCTV to effectively address public disorder and violence.

In addition, the Minibus Taxi Task Team stated their successful completion of negotiations sparked by the August strike. The impending implementation period is expected to ensure transportation continues without disruptions and signals an amicable resolution between involved parties.