Cape High Court rules against Disadvantanged Taxi Association for operating in the Garden Route

The Department of Transport in the Western Cape says it fully supports a decision by the George Municipality to interdict members of the Disadvantaged Taxi Association for operating in the Garden Route town.

The Cape High Court granted the municipality an interdict to stop the CODETA-affiliated association from operating at the local taxi rank as well as on all routes.

Part of Judge John Hlophe’s ordered is for the association to “remove and desist from displaying all manners of advertisement indicating that they conduct a road-based public transport until they are issued with valid permits…”#sabcnews pic.twitter.com/gchxoTPx7G

— Sphiwe Hobasi (@MrCow_man) January 12, 2022

The disadvantaged Taxi Association has since abided by the order and ceased all operations pending an appeal. It has been operating without a licence since 2019 Western Cape Transport spokesperson, Jandre Bakker.

“This group has submitted various memoranda to the George Municipality demanding operating licences and seeking to be recognised as a legitimate taxi association without following due process. The processes of applying for recognition as a legitimate taxi association and of applying for operating licences have been explained to this group on numerous occasions. However, this group continues to use tactics like demonstrations to try to force the government to accede to its demands regardless of process, procedure, and applicable public transport laws.”

Members of the Disadvantaged Taxi Association, affiliated to CODETA, have suspended operations in George in compliance with a court interdict. George Municipality approached the Cape High Court to interdict the association from operating at the local taxi rank #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/3Wjj3Yf2RV

— Sphiwe Hobasi (@MrCow_man) January 12, 2022