Africa-Press – South-Africa. The ANC in the Western Cape has withdrawn from participating in the EFF-led protest in Cape Town on Monday over the impoundment of taxis.
On Sunday, the ANC’s provincial leadership briefed the media on its decision to withdraw from the protest.
ANC Western Cape secretary Neville Delport said: “It was always our position that this was a multi-party march against the unlawful impoundment of taxis. It was never intended to be a shutdown led by one political party. The mixed messages emanating as late as this morning in the media have convinced us that it would be unwise to participate.”
Delport added they were opposed to any form of shutdown.
“We support a peaceful resolution of the issues facing the minibus taxi industry. The ANC calls on our members not to participate and to continue with their normal activities on Monday. The ANC will continue to engage the taxi industry, civil society and all spheres of government to find a lasting solution,” he said.
Last week, the EFF announced plans for a shutdown calling for the release of impounded taxis.
Initially, the ANC supported the protest.
The City’s relationship with the taxi industry soured in August after dozens of taxis were impounded, which resulted in the SA National Taxi Council (Santaco) staging an eight-day stayaway.
Santaco distanced itself from Monday’s protest.
Santaco’s first deputy chairperson, Nceba Enge, said:
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis on Sunday told News24 the EFF’s previous “shutdown” ended up being a small group of people walking down Roeland Street.
“We don’t expect any different on Monday. Especially since the issue is moot, since we’ve actually reached an agreement with Santaco, and they have explicitly instructed their members not to participate. We also got an interdict against the EFF in the High Court forbidding them from committing any violence or disruption, and that interdict certainly still stands. We will hold them to it.
“Unfortunately, these ‘shutdown’ calls are increasingly being used as a political tactic to try to gain relevance. They’re actually a bit lame,” he said.
The South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) provincial spokesperson Buntu Gwija has also announced its withdrawal from the protest.
“We vehemently oppose any form of shutdown and stand for a peaceful resolution within the minibus taxi industry. We call on our members not to participate… Sanco Western Cape will persist in engaging with the industry, civil society, and all spheres of government to find a lasting solution,” Gwija said.
The EFF’s provincial spokesperson Wandile Kasibe said the march would go ahead as planned.
“The EFF and parties that are involved in the programme tomorrow will go ahead with the march, and our people are ready to express their dissatisfaction with the draconian approach of the Democratic Alliance towards the taxi industry and their (DA-led administration) failure to cater for the needs of the poorest of the poor,” he said.
The City of Cape Town’s traffic services said permission was granted for an expected group of 1 000 people, who would gather on a field on the corner of Heideveld and Volstruis roads in Bridgetown (Vangate Mall) at 9:00. From there they will proceed to the Ndabeni pound as per an identified route.
Rolling road closures will be as follows:
The left lane along Jakes Gerwel Drive northbound will be cordoned off for the protesters and they will continue over the N2 along Jakes Gerwel towards Viking Way, they will then turn left onto Viking Way and proceed all the way down in the left lane towards the bridge and turn onto Jan Smuts Way.
They will continue along Jan Smuts Way towards Sunrise Circle, then exit the circle onto Berkley Road.
The march will continue along Berkley Road, past the abattoirs, and the protesters will gather on the corner of Berkley and Alexandra roads.
Berkley Road will be closed between Cannon Road and Sunrise Circle. Alexandra Road will be closed between Oude Molen Road and Ndabeni Road.
Motorists who want to access the Vincent Pallotti Hospital should do so via Raapenberg Road. Motorists are urged to use alternative routes where possible.
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