Give and take needed from both sides to end taxi strike

An example of a taxi in Cape Town, South Africa.

Last Friday, the taxi association Santaco embarked on a 7-day strike in Cape Town. This followed a day of action by provincial and local law enforcement agencies, during which a number of taxis were impounded and drivers arrested. 

On Thursday, videos started to circulate of heavy-handed treatment of taxi drivers and predictably the taxi association almost immediately withdrew the taxis from the roads, leaving thousands of people stranded. Commuters that could not make alternative arrangements resorted to walking – many only arriving home the next morning. 

(Before I continue, it seems to me that the Cape Town law enforcement agencies should have foreseen the actions of the taxi association and made alternative arrangements to get workers home safely. Yes, by all means apply the law, but it is not acceptable to have left thousands destitute and just blaming the taxi associations.)

Violence quickly erupted as buses, ambulances, property and cars were torched. Sadly, at least two people and a local law enforcement officer lost their lives. 

There can be no question that the law should be obeyed and enforced. Taxis, like all public transport vehicles, have an additional responsibility to transport those in their care safely. That requires the vehicles to be roadworthy and the drivers to drive with caution, which is what the national law as well as municipal by-laws require. There is also no excuse for anyone to resort to violence, murder, and destruction of property no matter the level of frustration and unhappiness. 

Only after a court interdict did Santaco finally condemn violent action, but it seems they either have lost control over their members or are quietly sending another message. Santaco, although agreeing that vehicles should be roadworthy and drivers should abide by traffic laws, objects to the immediate impoundment of vehicles by the City of Cape Town, when drivers for example don’t have their drivers’ licenses on them. They point out that the national law only provides for fines in most circumstances and that it’s not fair on the owners of these taxis that their vehicles are pulled off the road for offences their drivers commit – something they claim they have no control over. They also insist that the majority are complying with the law. 

Many Cape Townians – or at least those who comment on News24 articles – don’t agree, and have come out in full support of the actions taken by the City.  

“Impound them all!”; “Lovely quiet traffic today. No shouting and hooting off* thugs.”; “Was in George today at the Mall. No taxis in town either. What a pleasure.”'; “Don’t give in!” ;“An eye for an eye!”; “Meet force with more force!”

These were some of the hundreds of comments over the weekend. 

Racism aside (there were many calling the taxi drivers animals, terrorists, uncivilised, unable to understand first world rules) I couldn’t help despairing about how insulated, ignorant, and uncaring many people in our country still are. Yes, the law needs to be obeyed and yes, it might be nice for those of us with our private cars to have no traffic when we go to the mall, but have we really thought about the implications down the line?

According to STATS SA, around 11 million people or 70% of households make use of taxis every day to reach their place of work.

So, if there are no taxis who will (wo-)man the check-out tills at the malls? Who will clean the malls, streets and houses? Who will look after the babies so their parents can go to work (or the mall?) Who will drive the trucks with the food produce to the supermarkets? Who will fill our cars with petrol? Who will maintain the fiber networks that provide our internet and cell phones coverage? Who will provide the nursing care in our hospitals and old-age homes? Who will drive thousands of children to and from school?

Without the taxis our country, provinces, cities and towns can’t function.

This was already obvious over the weekend when after just one day of strike action supermarkets were experiencing staff and stock shortages. 

During COVID, we were reminded how important the lowest paid positions in our country and the world are. Street cleaners, supermarket staff, nurses, food truck drivers – these were and are the essential services that we cannot live without. These are also the people who need to use taxis because of the lack of other public transport alternatives.  

A solution must be found and quickly. It will require give and take from both sides and not a hardening of attitudes or more force. Hopefully cool heads will prevail and this strike will end soon.