Nyanga violence ends transport blitz

Cape Town 150421. A bus , a bakkie was set alight this morning in Klipfontein road. Another bus was stoned. A woman broke her leg while jumping out of the bus window. Picture Cindy Waxa.Reporter Kieran/Argus

Cape Town 150421. A bus , a bakkie was set alight this morning in Klipfontein road. Another bus was stoned. A woman broke her leg while jumping out of the bus window. Picture Cindy Waxa.Reporter Kieran/Argus

Published Apr 21, 2015

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Cape Town - The City of Cape Town on Tuesday said traffic services and police were forced to end a crackdown on public transport operators in Nyanga after taxi drivers began stoning and setting vehicles alight.

“Word was received that buses were being stoned at the Nyanga terminus and that roads were being blockaded by protestors,” said the City’s JP Smith, Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security.

“The City’s traffic service assessed the threat posed to private vehicles and property and ceased the enforcement operation as the City’s Metro Police and the South African Police Service had to withdraw to attend to the eruption of public violence”.

City traffic services, Metro Police, and the SAPS had been continuing with a crackdown on public transport traffic violators in Nyanga which began on Monday, when they were allegedly threatened by the local taxi association.

The officers had, at that point, already impounded 16 vehicles, served 51 warrants, issued 194 fines, and arrested three drivers.

Smith said the taxi association then allegedly threatened officers, saying “the situation will develop as it goes on”.

He said shortly after the threat was made, the officers received word that buses and another vehicle had been stoned and set alight.

Police and owners of the burnt buses, Golden Arrow Bus Service, on Tuesday confirmed the stoning and setting alight of vehicles.

“Vehicles were stoned and buses and a delivery vehicle were set alight by protestors,” said the Western Cape’s SAPS’ Lieutenant Colonel Andrè Traut.

“The situation is still being monitored and no one has been arrested. Public violence case dockets will be registered,” he said.

Golden Arrow’s General Manager FE Meyer said three of their buses had been set alight and they had received reports of minor injuries, resulting in a suspension of their services in Nyanga.

“The safety of our passengers and drivers remains our priority and as such, we have suspended our services in the area,” said Meyer.

Meyer urged all Golden Arrow passengers to make their way to Borcherd’s Quarry where there was sufficient police presence.

ANA

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