Two Golden Arrow Buses have been torched in Cape Town’s ongoing taxi strike.
The SA National Taxi Council (Santaco) recently embarked on a strike. The two-day strike aimed to protest against the Western Cape government’s cancellation of the Blue Dot Taxi project.
News24 describes the Blue Dot Taxi projects as “an incentive programme to reward improved driving and good passenger service by taxi operators.” The programme was kicked off in May 2021 and recorded the participation of approximately 800 minibus taxies across the Western Cape. The termination of the project will be made effective at the end of this month.
The strike has affected commuters, including Western Cape matrics writing their final exams (thousands of them). The strike, which promised to be non-violent, has since gotten out of hand. According to reports from the city, the alternative means of transport, buses, have been torched in the strike.
The buses include a MyCiTi and two Golden Arrow. Cape Town’s safety and security mayco member JP Smith said that a third Golden Arrow bus was nearly hijacked, leading to the arrest of one person. Bronwen Dyke-Beyer, the spokesperson for Golden Arrow, said that one of the buses was torched at 06:00.
She said, “It’s a very volatile situation. We are trying to operate as normal as possible, but it is a minute-to-minute situation. We are worried about our customers that need to get to work and matric learners who have exams. We are in constant contact with authorities,”
WATCH: A Golden Arrow bus in flames, forcing passengers to escape through windows. pic.twitter.com/KdzdUYdkhe
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) November 21, 2022
JUST IN: Golden Arrow bus set alight in Cape Town, Khayelitsha.
Commuters left stranded 💔Is it related to the Taxi stay away, or is not? Developing story. 🥺
Malema Sjava Kelly David Mabuza Pearl Thusi Rick Ross Lady Zamar Cassper pic.twitter.com/17VtX9d57o
— YaseBlock B 🇸🇿 (@ThisIsColbert) November 21, 2022
