SEVEN vehicles were torched in Nyanga on Wednesday, including two belonging to the City and five private vehicles, after an integrated taxi operation was conducted in the area last week, where Avanza taxis were impounded for operating without permits.
On Monday, 19 people were injured and nearly 70 Golden Arrow Bus Services Gabs buses damaged during ongoing protest actions.
Police spokesperson Joseph Swartbooi said the protest action is a response to an integrated taxi operation conducted in the Nyanga precinct, where vehicles were impounded for operating without permits.
“Stones were thrown at private and government vehicles and a delivery truck was set alight in Govan Mbeki Drive, Browns Farm. The protest is ongoing and an integrated law enforcement presence has been secured,” said Swartbooi.
Safety and Security mayco member JP Smith said the torching of vehicles was cowardly and criminal behaviour, reprehensible, and put commuters’ and other's lives at risk.
“Golden Arrow Bus Service, in the interest of safeguarding their buses, moved the loading area to the side of the N2 on Borcherds Quarry Road and there were significant traffic, law enforcement and metro police as well as SAPS resources supporting this operation.
“Three vehicle checkpoints were also conducted around the area.
“During the peak hour traffic, one or more Avanza vehicles moved about petrol-bombing private vehicles and it appears that as many as seven vehicles were torched this morning: two belonging to the city and five private vehicles.
“The criminal action of torching one of the private vehicles, in turn, caused an informal residence adjacent to Klipfontein Road to catch the light. The fire department responded and the vehicles were doused,” said Smith.
Smith has called on the MEC for Transport to invoke the maximum extent of his regulatory powers in relation to the conduct of some of these public transport operators and asked senior staff in the city to intensify operations in the area to ensure that law and order prevails.
Nyanga community leader Thulani Phike said Golden Arrow buses could not access the Nyanga area due to the incident; they dropped and picked up at the N2 Nyanga entrance.
“Only this morning, five private vehicles and two City of Cape Town vehicles have been torched around Lansdowne area. Law enforcement is visible in full force. It is said this is after traffic officers last week entered the Nyanga area to enforce traffic laws. As a result many small local taxis (Avanzas) were impounded because they do not have permits,” said Phike.