Codeta George to challenge court order

Update

GEORGE NEWS - The chairman of Codeta Disadvantaged Taxi Association George, Arnold Pietersen, who was arrested during the special law enforcement operation on Tuesday 19 August, says they are not taking the action taken against them lying down.

"We will challenge the court order again as we now have enough proof to show the judge that the order was not requested in an honest manner. It is clear now that the order was against only Codeta, because actions are performed on us only," said Pietersen.

According to Pietersen he was arrested on a charge of obstruction of justice after he "simply asked a couple of questions". He was released the day after his arrest on a warning to appear in court on Monday 8 August.

Twenty taxis were impounded during the operation that involved local and provincial traffic officers, assisted by police, against illegal taxi operators in certain areas of town.

Interdict

An interdict obtained by George Municipa-lity in January this year stipulates that any operator providing a service without a valid operating licence, is subject to immediate arrest and the impoundment of the illegal vehicle until such time as the case has been heard in court.

On 21 December 2021, the Cape Town High Court granted George Municipality an order that forbids Codeta to operate in George. It was served on Codeta on Monday 10 January.

Codeta, that had until 25 January to file counter-arguments, later filed an urgent court application to overturn the court order.

The matter was heard on 25 January, but on request of the municipality it was postponed until the end of May, after which the court order was made final.

A deserted taxi rank in the CBD on Monday morning - certainly not the usual picture.

Drivers out of work

According to Pietersen more than 20 taxi operators and drivers are now left without work. "The total is almost 40. We planned to protest and hand over a memorandum at the Department of Transport, but the department is in communication with us. We are busy with the registration of the association, so there is progress there that we never had," he said.

Many taxi operators were left stranded when their vehicles were impounded.

Taxi rank

After an inquiry was sent to George Municipality regarding the closure of the taxi rank in the CBD, communications manager Chantèl Edwards said that one lane of the municipal taxi rank was closed off to prevent illegal and unlicenced vehicles from using the facility.

"In terms of the existing interdict all illegal vehicles are prohibited from using the taxi rank," she said.

She added that in terms of the interdict there is no fee payable for the release of impounded vehicles. A docket is opened with the police and the release of vehicles will be determined by the court after finalisation of the court case. "All illegal and unlicenced vehicles, regardless of ownership, were and will be addressed going forward," said Edwards.

Municipal spokesperson Chantèl Edwards said in terms of the existing interdict all illegal vehicles are prohibited from using the taxi rank.

Lack of information

"We have not been able to collect any of our taxis yet as we have no fines on the taxis and the dockets are not yet in court due to incomplete information," Pietersen said on Monday.

"We are not sure of the cost but we are in the process of getting all our taxis out and will thereafter be looking into civil claims against the municipality. This has a very bad and negative effect on our business. We are going to approach the Public Protector as it's getting out of hand and innocent lives are being put at risk," he said.

Municipal spokesperson Chantèl Edwards said "one lane was closed to prevent illegal and unlicenced vehicles from using the facility".