The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) says violence is rife in the taxi industry because it has not been regulated.
SAFTU General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi was also part of the negotiations to bring peace to warring taxi associations in Cape Town.
Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has instructed taxi operators and associations in Cape Town with legal operating licences to resume services.
Following discussions with the two Associations, we have reached agreement and therefore decided to implement the following measures, with immediate effect: pic.twitter.com/8JM46MeTCZ
— |Mr Fix (@MbalulaFikile) August 2, 2021
AGREEMENT SIGNED: As government, we have an obligation to ensure that the rule of law prevails at all times.
We take this responsibility seriously and will not shy away from ensuring that the spirit and the letter of the law is not undermined by anyone. pic.twitter.com/xtmuE2Yo8E
— |Mr Fix (@MbalulaFikile) August 2, 2021
Taxi commuters in areas including Nyanga, Gugulethu and Khayelitsha were affected when taxi organisations Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata) and Congress of Democratic Taxi Association (Codeta) stopped operating.
This followed escalating violence in which 20 people were killed.
Vavi says there are many factors leading to unrest in the taxi industry.
“Taxi industry was left unregulated by the apartheid regime … the competition of economic interest is so intense,” adds Vavi.
Watch the video below for the full interview with Zwelinzima Vavi:
