Taxi strike chaos in Cape

Unrest on one of Cape Town's major transport arteries has cost businesses millions and left thousands of commuters unable to get to work.

Police in the city have been accused of failing to act on a tip-off on Sunday that taxi drivers would target buses yesterday.

In the townships of Nyanga, Gugulethu, Khayelitsha and Philippi, taxi drivers torched seven buses, burnt tyres, closed taxi ranks and pelted passing cars with stones.

The violence spilled over onto the N2 and the authorities closed a section of the highway and diverted traffic.

"They targeted 11 buses but we managed to retrieve four," said Golden Arrow Bus Services spokesman Bronwen Dyke. "They also targeted trucks and bakkies."

She said the damage amounted to R13-million and several drivers had been assaulted.

Mayor Patricia de Lille believes the unrest was part of an ANC-guided attempt to render the province ungovernable ahead of the 2016 local government elections.

Mayoral committee member for safety JP Smith condemned the police's failure to act on the tip-off.

"Their 'war room' should have been activated. Public confidence is lost, property has been damaged, people are injured and buses have been burned out," said Smith.

Police would not respond to these allegations.

Cosatu condemned the violence but complained of "hugely discriminatory transport services that favour richer communities".

In Nyanga bus drivers warned colleagues against entering the township and taxi drivers patrolled the streets to ensure that no taxis or buses were running in the area.

Mandla Mata, deputy chairman of the SA National Taxi Council in Western Cape, said the council had been unable to determine why exactly the taxi drivers were on strike.

"We found taxi drivers took their grievances to [De Lille] on Thursday last week. What topped their complaints was the increase in traffic fines in the province and the impounding of taxis, which leaves them without jobs.

"We understand Nyanga was the worst hit and the protest is still spreading. This has affected our taxis as well. They are being stoned and burned."