CHAOS has been reported in Nyanga as amaphela intensified their fight after their vehicles were impounded by the City of Cape Town last week.
A bus was set alight on the N2 on Friday, 2 September, while police vans were stoned and burnt down. Roads were also blocked with burning tyres, resulting in the streets being quiet with only a few people and cars around.
The guardroom at Nyanga Community Health Centre on Sithandathu Street was also set alight, leaving residents worried that the clinic may be destroyed.
Speaking to Daily Sun, one amaphela owner (43) said they were tired of being abused by the city, and would not back down until their impounded cars were returned.
“There won’t be peace in Nyanga; it will be a no-go-area for traffic cops and anyone from the city,” said the man, who owns four Toyota Avanza vehicles.
Golden Arrow Bus Services spokeswoman Bronwen Dyke-Beyer said they had lost a bus, just days after losing four last week.
“One bus was set alight on the N2 under the Symphony Way, with reports of one passenger suffering a leg injury. The level of volatility makes it impossible to predict how services will be affected as the day progresses, but we will keep passengers updated via the media and our Facebook page,” she said.
Captain Frederick van Wyk said cops had arrested seven suspects, aged between 20 and 27.
“Cases of public violence and malicious damage to property were registered when one bus was set alight at the off-ramp on R300 from Mitchells Plain towards Cape Town. Protesters were blocking vehicles on Govan Mbeki road and a light delivery vehicle was burnt on Luzuko. Three police vehicles attending to the protest were stoned and damaged while one parked next to the police station was partially burnt,” Van Wyk said.
Transport MMC Rob Quintas condemned the violence, stating that amaphela must apply for permits.
Quintas said since 2015, the city’s urban mobility directorate had agreed to support the issuing of 400 operating licences to amaphela. But only 230 had successfully been issued.
“I want to remind the industry of the 170 permits available for the uptake, and which still need to be applied for in order for them not to fall foul of the law,” he added.
Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association spokesman Nkululeko Sityebi was not available for comment as he said he was in a meeting.
