'You’re not the law' - Chikunga blames CoCT's JP Smith for stalled taxi strike talks

Chikunga held a press briefing in Midrand on Tuesday, following a series of meetings with Western Cape government officials and the taxi industry.

Two people have died while several industries were brought to a standstill since the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) declared a stay away in retaliation to the impoundment under the city’s by-laws.

READ: Cape Town mayor demands Santaco 'immediately' stop violence

The minister condemned the violence, while at the same time accusing the city of unlawfully adding conditions to the country’s existing laws.

“It can never be that the city defines itself outside the parameters of the national laws. We, therefore, call on the City of Cape Town to uphold national laws as they currently stand,” she said.

The minister called for the immediate, unconditional release of the taxis that were impounded based on the National Road Traffic Act and leave those that are impounded on the basis of the National Land, Transport Act of 2009."

She also accused Safety MMC JP Smith of arrogance: "That’s why we are saying to that JP Smith, you are not the law, you are simply an MMC. If everybody in the Western Cape is afraid of [him], we are not.

“He must apply the law as law. He’s not a g*ddess of South Africa.”

However, Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said they would not be forced to negotiate with the taxi industry amid the violence.

“It’s not our approach and we don’t believe it’s the right policy anywhere in South Africa, that you negotiate with people who are threatening with violence and who are perpetrating violence right outside the door of the negotiating room.”

He called on all tiers of government to take a united stance against negotiating where the other party is hostile and perpetuating violent conduct.

Hill-Lewis was speaking alongside Police Minister Bheki Cele, who was in the city to assess the impact of the strike.

Cele said 120 people had been arrested so far. He also said 26 people had died between Monday and Tuesday because police resources have been diverted to focus on the violent strike.

He said the taxi strike could not be justified.

"Anything that brings instability to communities can't be justified...anything that impacts the lives of ordinary citizens must be avoided by all of us in power or in the transport industry."

The South African National Taxi Council has condemned the attacks and distanced themselves from the violence. 

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