Cosatu condemns Cape taxi strike

Cape Town - Western Cape Congress of SA Trade Unions boss Tony Ehrenreich on Friday condemned the planned Cape Town taxi strike and said local government was lying about having contingency plans in place for commuters.

Ehrenreich, who has been nominated by Cosatu to run for mayor of Cape Town, urged taxi drivers to block the city centre rather than prejudice their passengers.

"The taxi bosses have a right to protest but they must direct the protest at the government who is the cause of the problem so taxis must go and block the city centre, not prejudice commuters who can do nothing to solve their problems."

The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) has vowed that taxis would stop running at midnight on Sunday after they failed to resolve grievances with transport MEC Robin Carlisle over the impounding of vehicles, issuing of operating licences and alleged fraud by law enforcement officers.

Elizabeth Thomspon, mayoral committee member for transport, said Santaco's "call for a moratorium on impoundments is short-sighted and not legally possible".

Thompson said the city had "ensured that all possible contingency plans are in place and arranged for additional enforcement staff to keep our residents safe".

The local government also appealed to commuters to prepare themselves for delays and make alternative transport arrangements. It urged bosses to allow staff to work flexi-time.

Ehrenreich said the provincial government had a duty to provide workers with public transport but dismissed its statements that alternative arrangements had been made.

"MEC Carlisle is lying when he says they have contingency plans, as there are no additional trains that Metrorail can lay on, neither are there additional busses that Golden Arrow can put onto the road.