Police on high alert amid ‘national strike’
The South African Taxi Council (Santaco) has distanced itself from unconfirmed reports of a national shutdown on June 10 in protest of the recent petrol price hike.
Update 11:30:
SAPS National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJoints) confirmed (June 9) it has put measures in place to ensure the safety and security of South Africans amidst threats of the national shutdown.
According to Colonel Athlenda Mathe, the intelligence community is closely monitoring the situation and the associated risks.
“The NatJoints is calling on all people in South Africa to work together with law enforcement authorities to uphold and enforce the law. Any action aimed at contravening the law, will be dealt with accordingly within the ambit of the law. To this end, the NATJOINTS is calling for the cooperation of the public.”
Mathe cautions the public against spreading messages that seeks to mobilise communties to respond to the shutdown.
“Those behind these messages are warned and reminded that prohibiting people’s freedom of movement is a criminal offence. Members of the public are therefore cautioned.”
Original story:
One of the country’s biggest players in the taxi industry, the South African Taxi Council (Santanco), has distanced itself from an apparent national shutdown set for June 10.
Unconfirmed reports of a national shutdown in protest of the recent petrol price hike have rifled social media but is it cause for concern or simply just another hashtag?
Reports stated that Santanco and the National Taxi Alliance were said to be lobbying for the strike, encouraging other trade unions to join.
However, according to Santaco, while it continues to hold strong views that urgent intervention is needed as increases in taxi fares looms, it never lobbied or planned for any sort of shutdown.
SANTACO has never lobbied any organisation for a national shutdown, and not even planning any shutdown. We still however, hold the strongest view that there’s an urgent intervention needed from govt and this despite looming taxi fare increases @SAfmnews https://t.co/JMt1NNqeQl
— SANTACO (@SA_Taxis) June 6, 2022
While reports of the national shutdown remain largely unconfirmed, the Sandton CPF has said that it remains on high alert.
“Investigations are ongoing and if there are any confirmed developments we will notify the community accordingly,” said the CPF on Facebook.
This is a developing story
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