News

NewsWrap: Taxi violence continues to wreak havoc in the Cape metro

todayAugust 4, 2023 142

Background
share close

COCT sets aside R7.2mil to upskill and equip neighbourhood watches 

The City of Cape Town says that it has set aside R7,2million to upskill and equip neighbourhood watches around the city. The Neighbourhood Watch Support programme which was started in 2008 is to help establish and also facilitate training for those volunteering on Neighbourhood Watches.
Earlier this year, the programme also piloted First Aid training for a handful of neighbourhood watches, with training for another 200 members set soon.

Community members in Rivelea call on police to clampdown on zama-zama’s 

Resident in Riverlea in Joburg want illegal miners known as zama zamas out of the area after armed clashes between rival groups. Reports are suggesting that there has been a lack of police action against the illegal miners. Meanwhile provincial commissioner Elias Mawela is calling on mining houses to take responsibility for abandoned shafts.

At the same time….

The Presidency says illegal mining and related violence is concerning. Communities in illegal mining hotspots say zama zamas are terrorising them. Presidency says that it is encouraged by the police’s progress reporting that more than 1,190 illegal miners had been arrested between April last year and March this year.

However….

Action SA leader Herman Mashaba says that violent clashes between groups of zama zamas and police in Riverlea is a perfect example of governments inability to protect its people.

Taxi violence continues to wreak havoc in the Cape metro

Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill Lewis says law enforcement and traffic services will remain on high alert throughout the day to maintain law and order in the City amid the ongoing taxi strike. The strike which got underway late yesterday saw those dependent on public transport like the minibus taxis be stranded with no real alternative to get home as buses were not allowed into the City and trains were cancelled. A number of violent incidents are reported in various communities across the metro with two buses set alight in Nyanga yesterday with another Golden Arrow bus set alight in Khayelisha earlier today.

Meanwhile….

The Golden Arrow Bus service says that it aims to provide as much coverage as possible and to run services until they have assisted as many passengers as possible. The bus service says that it plans to operate on all routes today with diversions in place where necessary.

At the same time….

The City’s law enforcement says that some trucks and ambulance and other vehicles had also been attacked in the ongoing violence. The City’s Mayco Member for Safety and Security JP Smith has warned that officials will proceed with impounding illegal or unroadworthy vehicles even as taxi bosses cause chaos in reaction to the traffic officials enforcing the new by-laws.

Written by: Keenan Williams

Rate it

Previous post

News

US company uses recycled greywater to create beer

Dams at over 100% full but COCT says we should still use water sparingly  We should not be having a false sense of water security for the future. That’s the warning from the City’s Mayco Member for Water and Sanitation Dr Zahid Badroodien, as reports have emerged that our dam levels are just over 100 percent full. Badroodien says that his department is focusing on its New Water Programme plans […]

todayAugust 2, 2023 33


0%