Taxi drivers stoning vehicles in Cape Town

[daveza]

Apparently large areas of the CBD have been cordoned off.

Perhaps best to avoid town altogether.

Rumour has it that arrests are not being made to avoid ' inflaming the situation'....

 

[TheHiveMind]

This puts us in a rather bad position. Giving the taxi drivers what they want will be like setting a precident of "negotiating with terrorists", which will only encourage other groups to also threaten 2010 to get what they want. The alternative is telling them to go to hell, but they seem keen to spoil things for everyone.

 

[daveza]

Well we will have to see if the government will allow the country, 2010 to be held to ransom.

My guess is they don't have the balls.

 

[brixton tower]

How many public transport ideas have already been canned because of these clowns? They seem to always get what they want to the decrement of the public at large. Time for government to take a stance on this. The Taxi Ass's have too much power, and governments reaction to their demands will either confirm or deny that power.

Only leverage they have is the threat of violence...only problem is that as shown by the Metro Cops...taxi drivers/owners don't hold the exclusive rights to violence.

I don't have a problem with citizens objecting/lobbying their government but this is ridiculous. Basically what they're demanding is protection from competition...FFS, if your service is that good than people will flock to use your product.

The minibus taxi industry, is a sad hangover from apartheid and some people simply refuse to move away from the bad habits of the past. If they have beef they can run to the Cape High Court.

 

[Balstrome]

How much tax does these taxi operators pay? apart for vat? they have a totally cash only operation, and I doubt that their books, if any, are valid and up to date. That is the reason why they dont want to get onboard with the new system, because it will make things easier for the goverment to track the cash flow.

 

[mcryan]

It's about time something gets done about this. It is not the first time the government is trying to implement something good for the society and the taxi's revolting.
Arrest every person throwing stones and disrupting the peace in our country. Introduce a safe and reliable transport system in the country that can be used by all if necessary.
Imagine we all caused riots every time we had a competitor in business. We'd have an ongoing war.

 

[Tassidar]

It is acceptable to protest against government. That is democracy.

What is unacceptable is violence. Against civilians, this could constitute assault, manslaughter or even murder (in extreme cases). I'm no lawyer, so can't comment too intelligently on this.

Against the police, however, I would say that it constitutes treason. In such cases I would not hesitate in calling in the military. Violence against the police in a legitimate democratic government is not protest, it is terrorism and treason. It needs to be dealt with in the harshest possible way.

 

[daveza]

http://www.eyewitness.co.za/story.aspx?id=1705

Furious taxi drivers want BRT gone
Leigh-Anne Jansen | 24 Minutes Ago

Hundreds of taxi drivers have been making their way to the Cape Town Civic Centre on Tuesday because they were unhappy about government’s proposed Bus Rapid Transit System for 2010.

The march followed the chaos that erupted at various points across the Cape Peninsula on Tuesday morning when taxi drivers claimed that they were going to lose out on business.

Law enforcement officers had their hands full trying to keep a bunch of unruly taxi drivers at bay.

Police said that the majority of the few hundred men were either drunk or high on dagga and they were also armed with wooden sticks, knobkerries, hubcaps and anything that they could get their hands on.

Police resorted to firing rubber bullets and hand grenades in the hope of calming the crowd.

A fusillade between taxi bosses and police broke out when the men refused to join the rest of the crowd but a police helicopter was keeping a close watch on the situation.

Drunk and high on dagga ? Must be preparing for the evening rush hour.

Update: Stone throwers near cooling towers on N2.

 

[porn$tar]

http://www.eyewitness.co.za/story.aspx?id=1705



Drunk and high on dagga ? Must be preparing for the evening rush hour.

Update: Stoned throwers near cooling towers on N2.

fixed

 

[daveza]

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20081209112225989C435511

The Cape Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry condemned the violent actions of the tax industry and said it hoped authorities would not only clamp down on the perpetrators, but also punish them by taking away their licences.

"It is absolutely unacceptable that they resort to violence to make their voices heard," said Chamber director Albert Schuitmaker.

"Clearly, what needs to be done is that the industry and the authorities must now sit down and work out how our public transport system should look. The taxi industry offers a public service and, as such, should be regulated. It appears there are elements within the industry who believe they have all the rights and no responsibilities."

+ lots.

 

[drew137]

http://www.eyewitness.co.za/story.aspx?id=1705



Drunk and high on dagga ? Must be preparing for the evening rush hour.

Update: Stone throwers near cooling towers on N2.

Whats going to be a safe route from Century City to Town? I normally go Hertzog Blvd any ideas or do I just sleep in the office?

 

[Mila]

I'm amazed....

 

[daveza]

Go past UCT, over Constantia Neck, past Hout Bay and Camps Bay.

They are going to march from District Six to see Zille. If she pisses them off then maybe sleep at the office.

 

[drew137]

Go past UCT, over Constantia Neck, past Hout Bay and Camps Bay.

They are going to march from District Six to see Zille. If she pisses them off then maybe sleep at the office.

Still have to try get up onto the M5 to get onto N2 to go past UCT maybe I must just risk it!

 

[gregmcc]

Damn idiots. Shoot them I say. Where do I signup!!

 

[daveza]

Avoid the R300 turnoff on N2 - taxi driver shot dead by police ( he shot first ).

Also heard Kenilworth cordoned off - not sure exactly where.

 

[ToxicBunny]

This is just not on...

Taxi drivers can have their little hissyfit, but must be put down and told to shut up.. because the BRT will benefit everyone..and MAYBE hurt their pockets a little bit....

 

[porn$tar]

Avoid the R300 turnoff on N2 - taxi driver shot dead by police ( he shot first ).

Also heard Kenilworth cordoned off - not sure exactly where.

*applauds*

 

[daveza]

Sorry - current reports say he was just wounded.

 

[CathJ]

Also heard Kenilworth cordoned off - not sure exactly where.

Let us know if you hear? I was planning on going there later...