Following a protest of the National Taxi Association (NTA) outside the Department of Transport this morning, Minister Robin Carlisle met with a five member delegation of the group led by Mr Mandla Mata. The meeting was conducted in a positive and constructive spirit.
The delegation presented the minister with a memorandum outlining a list of their demands. The minister agreed to consider the memorandum in consultation with his colleagues in the Department of Community Safety, South African Police Service (SAPS), City of Cape Town, and where appropriate, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
One of their main demands was for the Minister to release all vehicles that had been impounded during law enforcement operations. The minister made it clear to the delegation that neither he nor law enforcement agencies would ever agree to a blanket release of impounded vehicles.
“There is no way I can release all impounded vehicles, particularly those that pose a danger to human lives.”
The minister requested the delegation to provide him with a list of “special cases” of impounded vehicles which he agreed to urgently consider for release in consultation with law enforcement agencies and the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development.
The minister urged the delegation to ensure that Commonwealth Association of Tax Administrators (CATA) and Congress for Democratic Taxi Associations (CODETA) associations to attend the regional and provincial annual general meetings of the order to present the broadest and legitimate representation of the minibus taxi industry in the province.
Solly Malatsi
Cell: 083 641 9691
Tel: 021 483 8954
