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Cape Town - The mini-bus taxi industry has become far too important to public transport in Cape Town for the ongoing violence to be tolerated, the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry said on Thursday.
She referred to the flare-up of taxi violence in certain areas in Cape Town, like Capricorn Park. It has left more than five people dead.
“Every incident of violence and murder is a personal tragedy affecting many people, but the wider significance is that it is undermining the whole public transport industry in the City,” said Janine Myburgh, president of the chamber.
Hundreds of thousands of Cape Town commuters depend on the industry to get to and from work and taxi journeys remain potentially terrifying experiences.
"People arrive at work with their nerves shot and they are unable to give of their best. Similarly, they arrive home exhausted," said Myburgh.
"It may surprise many that at least 250 000 Mitchells Plain residents commute daily using taxis as the primary mode of transport to and from work, while many more use the mini-bus taxis as a feeder service to the main rail and bus routes."
To Myburgh the mini-bus taxi industry is beyond doubt a vital part of the economy of the city and provides work for many people, including those who drive and maintain the vehicles.
“It is an essential part of the transport infrastructure of the city and we need to understand and recognise the role the industry plays and find ways to integrate it more effectively into the whole public transport plan,” said Myburgh.
She said it was an industry that faced many challenges, “and we need to understand the problems and find solutions".
"It does not help to see only the negatives in terms of the safety record and the violence," said Myburgh.
"We must also look at the positives and the potential of the industry and how it can better serve our people. It is in everybody’s interest to have a successful and safe mini-bus taxi industry.”
- Fin24
She referred to the flare-up of taxi violence in certain areas in Cape Town, like Capricorn Park. It has left more than five people dead.
“Every incident of violence and murder is a personal tragedy affecting many people, but the wider significance is that it is undermining the whole public transport industry in the City,” said Janine Myburgh, president of the chamber.
Hundreds of thousands of Cape Town commuters depend on the industry to get to and from work and taxi journeys remain potentially terrifying experiences.
"People arrive at work with their nerves shot and they are unable to give of their best. Similarly, they arrive home exhausted," said Myburgh.
"It may surprise many that at least 250 000 Mitchells Plain residents commute daily using taxis as the primary mode of transport to and from work, while many more use the mini-bus taxis as a feeder service to the main rail and bus routes."
To Myburgh the mini-bus taxi industry is beyond doubt a vital part of the economy of the city and provides work for many people, including those who drive and maintain the vehicles.
“It is an essential part of the transport infrastructure of the city and we need to understand and recognise the role the industry plays and find ways to integrate it more effectively into the whole public transport plan,” said Myburgh.
She said it was an industry that faced many challenges, “and we need to understand the problems and find solutions".
"It does not help to see only the negatives in terms of the safety record and the violence," said Myburgh.
"We must also look at the positives and the potential of the industry and how it can better serve our people. It is in everybody’s interest to have a successful and safe mini-bus taxi industry.”
- Fin24
