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Premier Alan Winde has seven days to respond to the memorandum of grievances of local taxi associations.

CODETA and CATA say they approached Winde to intervene – as they didn’t receive favourable responses from the Transport MEC, Daylin Mitchell, and the City of Cape Town.

They complain that the impoundment process of their taxis by the Traffic Services and Law Enforcement is illegal and unfair.

They also allege that their vehicles are confiscated while there’s a change of ownership or new vehicle, even though the operating license is still valid.

The associations are also requesting government to issue them with special temporary permits to operate in new routes – which are yet to be gazetted.

CATA’s secretary, Mandla Hermanus, says they’re helping people to go to new established places of work, like malls.

“People still need to get to work and we are stepping in, as a response to the need of the communities… Then instead of assisting us with legalising those operations, you decide to impound.” – Mandla Hermanus, Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA)

The associations also allege that the N1 has been turned into a no-go zone for taxis, even if they are not operating on the suspended B97 route.

Hermanus says they’re now consulting with lawyers on the matter

“We are saying – in those cases – we want to take the government to court, on what we think will ultimately be a class action. So that we can actually claim for loss of income, for all those taxis who have been wrongly impounded.” – Mandla Hermanus, Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA)

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