Taxi violence impacts City’s Dial-a-Ride service
18 March 2022
The City of Cape Town has suspended its Dial-A-Ride service until further notice in certain areas that have been impacted by the ongoing taxi violence this week. DAR is an essential service for commuters with special needs who cannot make use of conventional transport.
The City’s Dial-A-Ride service has been suspended in Nyanga, Phillipi, Crossroads and Samora Machel due to the recent taxi violence. Dial-A-Ride users from these areas were unfortunately not transported today, 18 March 2022, due to the violent protests.
The City, through its service provider, will inform users once it is safe to operate in their areas.
‘The City cannot risk the lives of the passengers and our staff while this violence continues. We will only resume operations once it is safe to do so. We are monitoring other volatile areas and may need to suspend the service in other parts of the city as well. The service provider will keep users informed.
‘It’s very disheartening to think that these individuals with special needs, who are most vulnerable and dependant on the City’s assistance, have to be left stranded in difficult economic times. With the service now being suspended, residents do not have certainty about their transport to work or important appointments.
‘I condemn this unrest in the strongest possible terms. I appeal to all to remain calm as violence will not solve anything. In fact, it will only make matters worse and must stop,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas.
The DAR service transports commuters with special needs who cannot make use of conventional public transport. Most of these passengers are in wheelchairs.
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
