Taxi bosses and ANC distance itself from EFF’s taxi protest in Cape Town

2-minute read
03 October 2023 | 14:47 CAT

EFF members marched in Cape Town on Monday to draw attention to taxi impoundments. Image: Michael Walker

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) s set off on a march through Cape Town on Monday to protest against taxi impoundments in the Western Cape despite the withdrawal of various other organisations.

The provincial ANC, Santaco and the SA National Civic Organisation (Sanco) on Sunday cancelled their participation in the protest, which calls for an end to “unjust taxi impoundments, gangsterism, a collapsed service delivery, unemployment, unlawful evictions and racism in Cape Town.

By 1 p.m., marchers were moving through Athlone towards the Ndabeni pound. Billed as another provincial shutdown, the event had only drawn about 100 protesters.

An EFF march notification said the event was prompted by “unjust taxi impoundments” and “taxi passengers’ harassment”.

ANC provincial spokesperson Muhammad Khalid Sayed said the party is unhappy with the EFF labelling the march as a shutdown, saying they only support a peaceful resolution to taxi industry disputes in the city.

“It was always our position that this was a multi-party march against the unlawful impoundment of taxis. It was never intended to be a shutdown led by one political party. The mixed messages emanating as late as Sunday morning in the media have convinced us that it would be unwise to participate,” Sayed said.

He said the ANC only supports a peaceful resolution to taxi industry disputes with the city of Cape Town.

“We are opposed to any form of shutdown. We support a peaceful resolution of the issues facing the minibus taxi industry. The ANC will continue to engage the taxi industry, civil society, and with all spheres of government to find a lasting solution,” he added.

Listen to the full interview on Your World Today with Moulana Muhammed Bham.

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