Hout Bay’s taxi associations have been meeting with their mother bodies to broker an end to the taxi violence that saw their services suspended.
This is according to Achmat Dyason, chairman of the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) in the Western Cape.
Mr Dyason said the meetings were in preparation for Santaco’s meeting with officials on Tuesday April 30.
He said the Hout Bay Wynberg Taxi Association, affiliated to the Cape Amalgated Taxi Association (Cata), and Central Unity Association, which is affiliated to the Congress of Democratic Taxi Associations (Codeta) would be seeking to reach a deal this week that would be suitable to both parties and restore services in the area.
“Codeta and Cata are meeting with Santaco this Thursday (April 25) to discuss the final agreement reached by these associations. Hereafter, Santaco will present the agreement to local, provincial, and national government officials in Tuesday’s meeting.”
Mr Dyason added: “Many of those affected by the taxi violence wanted a quick resolution, but the associations asked for more time to reach a final and workable solution.”
All affected parties were “keeping to their end of the peace agreement”, he said, adding: “We don’t expect any violence to erupt. Everyone is aware and cognisant that taxi bosses and drivers’ businesses are suffering during this time of suspension. Hence everyone’s hope that the process will be concluded by next week Tuesday.”
In response to the unrest in the area, Hout Bay residents held a peaceful walk on Saturday April 13.
The “Peaceful Walk Against Violence in Hout Bay” stretched from the Imizamo Yethu circle towards Victoria Road to Main Road and back.
The event’s convener, Allessandro Mariola, said on the event’s Facebook page that “the community must come together, in protest for what has been happening in Hout Bay”.
The march, he said, was “in solidarity for those innocent brothers and sisters who have lost their lives – we show love to our communities and fellow residents”.
The small group of residents marched throughout the village’s streets with a placard of John Lennon’s song Imagine.
