THE City of Cape Town has turned to the courts.
This came after "extortionists" threatened a construction company building a MyCiti station between Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain in Cape Town.
Construction work was stopped on Thursday, 29 February 2024 after threats from the "construction mafia".
The affected construction project for the MyCiTi bus service is located along AZ Berman Drive in Mitchells Plain.
Rob Quintas, MMC for Urban Mobility, said a group of people claiming to be from development organisations in the surrounding areas had stopped the project and demanded a meeting with the City of Cape Town.
Quintas said when the construction company continued with its work, a group of people came again and threatened to burn their machinery. The company was forced to remove their machinery from the building site.
"As the construction company continued its work, a group of people came again and threatened to burn their machines. The company was forced to remove its machinery from the site. Persons associated with five so-called development and economic forums in the Mitchells Plain area have forced the construction company to leave the site where we are engaged in construction work related to the launch of the MyCiti bus service.
"Faced with intimidation and threats against staff, the contractor had no choice but to leave the area. The group vowed to burn machinery if work continues, and their demands are not met. We will not tolerate this predatory behaviour. Therefore, we will approach the court to seek redress," Quintas said.
ALSO READ: Alleged heist kingpin's cries of torture
The MMC said the city is already processing the court papers, which it expects to file in the Western High Court this week.
"The city’s internal processes are underway to prepare an application for an interdict, including the collation of all substantive evidence to support the application in the Western Cape High Court. If all goes according to plan, the application will be lodged this week," he said.
Mitchells Plain resident Laura Jacobson (43) said commuters will be affected in what is happening.
"We're the ones suffering from poor transport. The city needs to find a way to end this mess. Services must not be blocked by a few greedy people," she said.
"The City of Cape Town will not engage in money-making schemes. We are committed to providing services to these communities and we will do whatever is necessary to fulfil that mandate," he said.
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis visited the Spine Road Depot in 2023 and called for an end to the disruption of municipal projects.
