Schools, public libraries, and clinics have been closed in most parts of Cape Town townships as the taxi strike in the city enters its fifth day. Last week Thursday, the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) announced a seven-day provincial shutdown. The strike has been marred by violence, road closures and vandalism and torching of Golden Arrow and Greyhound buses.

HUNDREDS OF LEARNERS LEFT STRANDED

In a statement today, Western Cape Education MEC David Maynier said over 456 000 learners and 17 449 staff members missed out on schooling. This is after 27 schools were closed down today as the learners are unable to commute due to the taxi strike. â€?"This is a significant increase as the 287 000 learners and 9 500 staff members who were absent from school on Friday. This is a devastating loss of teaching and learning time that our kids cannot afford,” Maynier said. 

LIVES LOST

Two people have been killed and three injured this morning. Police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa said the first death was that of an individual who appeared to have been pelting vehicles with stones. "An individual was shot dead and three others were injured after a motorist was pelted with stones on Airport Approach Road. The driver responded to the attack by firing several shots," she said. Potelwa said police were investigating a murder and attempted murder. In a separate incident believed to also be taxi violence related, a 28-year-old man was shot dead and no arrests have been made. Potelwa added," Additional forces, including air support, are en route to a number of locations where traffic interruptions and other incidents have been reported," Potelwa said.

CLINICS CLOSED

The City of Cape Town said most clinics are closed as healthcare workers and staff members are unable to commute. All clinics in Khayelitsha, Bloekombos Clinic, Blue Downs Clinic, Crossroads 1 Clinic, Delft South Clinic, Dr Ivan Toms CDC, Driftsands Satellite Clinic, Gugulethu Clinic, Khayelitsha Environmental Health Office, Masincedane Clinic, Muizenberg Clinic, Mzamomhle Clinic, Nyanga Environmental Health Office, Philippi Clinic, Strandfontein Clinic, Wallacedene Clinic, and Weltevreden Valley Clinic. The clinics are closed also because healthcare workers are unable to commute. 

The city said in a statement that Masiphumelele Clinic, Seawinds Clinic, and Vuyani Clinic are offering limited services. 

DELAYED NEGOTIATIONS

Provincial mobility MEC Ricardo Mackenzie said that negotiations are slow and delayed. "I’m sad that commuters will have to go through disruptions again. Working with my colleagues in the City of Cape Town, we’ll have the MyCiTi buses out and Golden Arrow will continue getting their buses out to continue to get commuters to and from work safely. Our law enforcement agencies will assist with providing safety to these buses to assist commuters to get to work safely,"