Cape Town – Three men with strong links to the taxi industry have been reportedly arrested with 13 petrol bombs in Delft.
On Monday morning two Golden Arrow buses and a MyCiti bus were reportedly set alight in Khayelitsha as taxi drivers embarked on a two-day strike across the Western Cape.
The City of Cape Town deployed more law enforcement and undercover law enforcement officers to monitor public transport interchanges and patrolling routes.
According to police spokesperson, Brigadier Novela Potelwa, members spotted a Toyota Quantum taxi and a sedan vehicle pursuing a furniture truck along Delft Main Road, reported IOL.
Potelwa said that Flying Squad members responded and called for back-up when the furniture truck driver appeared in distress.
“Once they pulled over the 15-seater vehicle and the sedan, they searched the vehicles. Thirteen petrol bombs were discovered and the suspects were subsequently apprehended.
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“The suspects, between the ages of 28 and 32, are alleged to have strong links to the taxi industry and are expected to appear in court as soon as they are charged in terms of the Explosives Act,” Potelwa was quoted as saying in the report.
The furniture delivery vehicle was then escorted out of the area by the police, the report said.
Potelwa said integrated police contingents comprising of the police, law enforcement officials and traffic services continue to maintain a strong presence at identified hotspots.
South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) embarked on the strike after the Western Cape government decided to cancel its Blue Dot Taxi Project, reports News24.
According to Santaco’s Western Cape chairperson, Mandla Hermanus, its members were not happy with the provincial government and the MEC for Mobility, Daylin Mitchell’s decision in relation to the Blue Dot Taxi Project.
“As things stand, the stay-away is going ahead,” the report quoted Hermanus as saying.
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Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
