25 April 2000
The ANC alliance met this morning to assess the ongoing transport crisisaffecting Khayelitsha, Nyanga and Gugulethu. An ultimatum had beenisssued by the ANC warning taxi operators to ensure normality over the weekend. Although the situation is not back to normal, relative peace was achieved when taxis escorted busses into Khayelitsha on Friday after discussions between COSATU shopstewards from Golden Arrrow and the Taxi organizations.
This afternoon, the ANC chaired further discussions between Golden Arrow and CATA and CODETA in an attempt to restore normality. It was agreed that discussions would continue on 2 May and parties would make every effort to ensure that the relative calm prevailed over the coming long weekend.
Commenting on the situation, ANC provincial leader Ebrahim Rasool said ; " We believe that our ultimatum has been heeded but much more needs to be done to restore normality. Central to lasting peace is the complete transformation of public transport in our province. We need to ensure that the provincial government uses its power to grant permits to those taxi operators whose licences have been blocked by objections to the transportation board. The board itself is not fully representative.
Unless these issues are addressed, conflict will remain a feature of the public transport system in the metro. " We have made it very clear that no matter the legitimacy of the concerns of taxi operators, no violence from any quarter can be justfied.
" The ANC will monitor the situation over the coming days and insist on a concrete program to deal with outstanding issues at the meeting on 2 May"
Further comment contact Leonard Ramatlakane,
ANC spokesperson on Transport, on 082 896 3946