SEVEN City of Cape Town vehicles were petrol bombed amidst the ongoing taxi protest in Cape Town on Sunday, 6 August.
The MMC for Safety and Security, Jean-Pierre Smith, said they had encountered numerous incidents in the past 24 hours related to the ongoing taxi strike.
"At least seven vehicles belonging to different departments, including enforcement vehicles, were damaged or completely destroyed," he said.
Besides the Delft incident, three vehicles were torched in Makhaza, Khayelitsha.
Smith said on Saturday, 5 August, the law enforcement agencies busted a taxi in Atlantis with tyres inside it.
"City Traffic Officers responded to reports of public violence. On arrival, a taxi, seeing the enforcement vehicle, made a U-turn and sped off," he said.
Smith said officers gave chased the taxi assisted by police.
"When the taxi was brought to a stop, officers found the vehicle loaded with tyres and arson implements. Six suspects were arrested on various charges," he said.
Smith said since the beginning of the strike, they have recorded at least 110 criminal cases related to the strike.
"While Santaco has attempted to distance itself from the criminal acts witnessed in the last five days, the organisation should have anticipated that calling for the strike would have resulted in this chaos as is the case every single time, and they have to accept responsibility," said Smith.
ALSO READ: Couple's KISS of death!
Santaco released a statement distancing itself from the "opportunistic criminal elements that are taking advantage of the strike and unleashing violence on innocent people.
"We call our members to be disciplined and abide by the call for a peaceful stay away," said the statement.
Santaco spokesman Nceba Enge has squashed the rumour that taxis will b3 back on the road on Monday, 7 August.
"Let me put it on record that the taxi industry and the City of Cape Town have not yet reached an agreement. Stay away continues," he said.
On the other hand, Smith said the laws the taxi associations are complaining about are not national.
"It must be clear, while the City still extends its invitation for Santaco to return to the previously established task team, there can be no points of negotiation around the enforcement of national legislation," Smith added.
