SACP Western Cape welcomes end of taxi strike in the Western Cape

11 August 2023

The South African Communist Party (SACP) in the Western Cape welcomes the end to the taxi strike. We commend the leadership that was demonstrated by all parties in arriving at a decision that would be best for everyone – especially the working-class.

In the course of the strike, lives, livelihoods and wages were needlessly lost, and both public and private property was damaged. Although this resolution has come at a later stage than we would have wanted, it is better late than never. The commitment to a process to release the unfairly impounded minibus taxis, combined with the fact that the strike has lately been conducted relatively peacefully, are good faith gestures by all sides. It demonstrates leadership.

The strike demonstrated that we are all interconnected, even across the divides of race and class. Even though it was the working-class who suffered the most, the taxi strike interrupted the supply chain to the extent that all citizens in the Western Cape felt the ripple effect.

As a basis to get to the root of the challenges facing our public transport system in the Western Cape, the SACP calls for a Public Transport Indaba to be held within three months. Such an Indaba must be a platform to address all structural challenges facing our public transport system and should be a platform for the building of a Safe, Reliable, Affordable and Integrated Public transport system.

Issued by Benson Ngqentsu, SACP Western Cape Provincial Secretary, 11 August 2023