violence
6 April 2006
The Provincial Government of the Western Cape is satisfied that significant
progress is being undertaken to address incidents relating to renewed taxi
violence and gang war.
This is after a convened meeting between the Premier, MEC for Community
Safety Leonard Ramatlakane, MEC for Transport and Public Works Marius Fransman,
senior police officers, officials of the departments of Community Safety and of
Transport and Public Works. Following this meeting the Premier met with the
leadership of the taxi council.
Senior police officers briefed the meeting on the upsurge of taxi violence,
in particular in the Delft, Kraaifontein, Bellville interchange and the Cape
Town City deck. These four have been identified as the "hot-spots" areas linked
to the current spate of violent incidences. As a result of police and security
presence in these areas, there has been a decrease in violence which has now
shifted onto the routes.
The meeting heard that new permits and an overtraded route were the cause of
the shootings. Several recommendations were submitted by the South African
Police Service in an effort to curb the violence in the taxi industry with
immediate effect.
Premier Ebrahim Rasool welcomed these recommendations and remarked, "the
role-players have given their reports and I am optimistic that we are making
progress. I can now confirm that since the Ntsebeza report was released,
incidence of violence on our taxi ranks have declined dramatically. "As we
speak, our police are undertaking various operations to secure our ranks as we
are determined not to let the gains we have made be rolled back. Taxis are not
a place for guns, it is our intention to have a Gun Free Public Transport
industry."
"I want to appeal to the citizens of Cape Town to be patient in the course
of our police and other law enforcement agencies undertaking their duties to
secure public places in our Province. I would also like to apologise for any
inconvenience that may be caused during these operations."
Premier Rasool and the MECs re-iterated that these operations will not only
deal with the taxi violence but will also address the renewed gang violence in
the Cape Flats. The meeting decided to make further recommendations to be
tabled at Cabinet next Wednesday with regards to the Ntsebeza Report.
This is a joint statement from the, the Ministry of Community Safety and the
Ministry of Transport and Public Works.
Enquiries:
Shado Twala
Official Spokesperson to Premier Rasool
Cell: 083 640 6771
Makhaya Mani
Spokesman to MEC for Community Safety
Cell: 082 780 4493
Eric Ntabazalila
Spokesman for MEC for Transport and Public Works
Cell: 083 647 6311
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Department of Community Safety and
Department of Transport and Public Works
6 April 2006
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government (http://www.capegateway.gov.za/eng/)
