Stuck in Stellenbosch

--Taxi Strikes in Cape Town--

Yesterday was the first day that we were advised by our Philippi staff not come into work, but instead to stay at the office in Stellenbosch due to heightened violence, tension, and chaos in Philippi and around the Cape Town area caused by a large taxi strike. Today things have escalated and the unrest gotten worse because the strike has gone national. Please pray for the Bridges of Hope staff who are in Philippi. Pray for their safety as well as the safety of all involved. Please pray for a quick and peaceful resolution to this strike. Selfishly, we are bummed to be missing things that are going on in Philippi (a CHE monthly meeting yesterday, orphan support group today, and possibly a committee meeting on Monday), but really just desire that no one gets hurt and the whole strike ends quickly. We will have to wait until the roads have reopened and we have received word that it is safe before we go back in (and we hope that is sooner rather than later).

FROM THE LOCAL PAPER...
Chaos as CT taxi drivers strike 26/10/2006 12:24 - (SA)
Cape Town - A bus was set alight and two hijacked during a violent protest by taxi drivers in Cape Town on Thursday morning, the Golden Arrow bus company said.
One of the hijacked buses had been used to block off the N2 highway.
"There have been numerous stonings and several bus passengers and drivers have been injured by shattered glass," said the company's general manager, Francois Meyer.
Because of the danger, the company was currently not operating in the Nyanga, Khayelitsha's Site C, Potsdam and Du Noon areas.
Police were not immediately able to confirm reports that members of the force fired rubber bullets to disperse drivers as they embarked on an illegal march from the Cape Flats to Cape Town.
In a memorandum of demands distributed to the media, the drivers protested against what they said was harassment by law enforcement officials.
"Officers must stop hiding behind bridges and bushes," they said.
They said no taxi driver should be arrested on the road as this left commuters stranded.
'Sick and tired'
They also asked for "separate cells" at police stations, and called for the cancellation of all outstanding traffic fines and warrants "as they were accumulated because of the problems we are highlighting.
"City police must stop assaulting and harassing taxi drivers should this continue taxi drivers will be forced to defend themselves," the statement read.
Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association spokesperson Alfred Maseti told Sapa that when drivers began marching from ranks including Nyanga and Khayelitsha, the police stopped them as the march was illegal.
"And then the rubber bullets fly," he said. He had not received any reports of injuries.
He said it was the drivers themselves who had decided to go on strike, rather than any of the recognised taxi associations.
"We did try to stop them on several occasions, but at this point in time it was beyond our power. They said they are sick and tired," he said.
Law enforcement officials said one of the roads blockaded with vehicles by taxi drivers was the Borcherd's Quarry road, which is the access road from the N2 to Cape Town International Airport.
There was a strong police presence at various points along the N2.
Democratic Alliance provincial spokesperson for transport Robin Carlisle said the taxi blockades and demonstrations had to be dealt with firmly and as a matter of urgency.
"The public not only expects the police to disperse the taxis, but that arrests are made and taxis are impounded," he said.
"Both provincial and municipal officials have at last commenced with regulating the taxi industry. If they lose their nerve now the industry will be out of control for years to come."
Cape Town - Police fired rubber bullets on Thursday to disperse protesting taxi drivers on the N2 highway outside Cape Town, SABC radio reported.
About 200 protesters were on their way to an illegal meeting in the city, and many were armed with pangas and sticks.
The road was cleared after the police action, and traffic flow restored by 07:00.
A few taxi drivers were arrested.
The drivers intended marching to city to show dissatisfaction with the way they were being treated by the police and metro police.
Meanwhile taxi ranks at Khayalitsha were empty as commuters used buses to get to work, the radio report said."