By Buziwe Nocuze
- Nine taxis belonging to the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association were torched at Nyanga Terminus in Cape Town, leaving five vehicles destroyed and four damaged but still operating.
- Taxi leaders warn the attack could worsen financial pressure on operators who are already struggling with rising fuel costs and fear commuters may stop using their taxis.
Taxi violence fears are rising again in Cape Town after nine taxis were set on fire at the Nyanga Terminus on Thursday night.
The vehicles belong to the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association.
Five Toyota Quantum taxis were completely burnt out in the attack. Four Iveco Sprinters were damaged but not badly and have already returned to work.
Taxi leaders say the incident adds to growing tension in the industry and follows other violent incidents involving the same association.
Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association spokesperson Nkululeko Sityebi said the attack is worrying because taxis are operators’ only source of income.
“It is becoming a norm at Cata in times like these where our vehicles are torched. We realise relying on SAPS to investigate and arrest the perpetrators is not enough,” said Sityebi.
He said criminals may be taking advantage of tensions within the taxi industry.
“People can always capitalise when they know that there is tension between certain individuals and they can always capitalise on that to satisfy their needs.”
Sityebi said operators are also worried about how the violence could affect passengers.
“We are always worried about the commuters because if commuters decide not to use our taxis, we will be in trouble,” he said.
Santaco provincial secretary Mandla Hermanus said the attack is very concerning at a time when many taxi operators are already under financial pressure.
He said rising petrol prices linked to events in the Middle East will also hurt the industry.
Hermanus said the same association faced a deadly incident last year when about 18 taxis were burnt and several people were killed.
Western Cape mobility minister Isaac Sileku said this is the third serious incident linked to the area.
“First incident there was torching of vehicles, second one women were killed and now this is the third time. This is totally unacceptable,” said Sileku.
He said police must investigate and determine whether the incidents are connected.
A taxi driver who spoke anonymously said containers believed to contain petrol were found at the scene.
“I think whoever did this planned it because I heard that there were containers containing petrol,” the driver said.
Pictured above: Nine taxis that were torched at Nyanga Terminus in Cape Town.
Image source: Buziwe Nocuze
