Transport minister condemns impounding of taxis in Cape Town

CAPE TOWN - The Minister of Transport has condemned the Western Cape government's actions against taxis, calling the impounding of vehicles unlawful.

READ: Transport Minister concerned about taxi chaos in Cape Town

Taxi association Santaco has pulled its vehicles from roads and violence has been reported in parts of the province.

Talks between the City of Cape Town and the taxi industry have proved fruitless, and commuters and businesses are paying the price.

The Minister wants an end to the strike.

Chikunga said, "your impoundment is not informed by any law, you are just doing it, and that is what is frustrating the taxi industry there."

"We advised the Western Cape province to actually set aside these conditions so that it is only the national act that is implemented and applied in the Western Cape, for now, so that the taxi industry can call off the strike."

"We believe that once Santaco goes back to operations the mayhem happening here will be reduced."

"We are concerned about the number of people that are not able to go to work and learners that are unable to go to school and the frustration that is happening there."