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Interfaith service calls for divine help to resolve Western Cape taxi strike

DM: Interfaith prayer service held in Cape Town to appeal for peace amid ongoing taxi strike's fatalities, arrests, and property damage.
Interfaith service calls for divine help to resolve Western Cape taxi strike Archbishop Thabo Makgoba, Mayor of Cape Town Geordin Hill-Lewis, Dean Michael Weeder of St George's Cathedral and Santaco Western Cape chairperson Mandla Hermanus hold candles while praying for a peaceful resolution to the taxi strike, 9 August 2023. (Photo: Brenton Geach / Gallo Images)
Suné Payne and Brenton Geach
By Suné Payne and Brenton Geach
9 Aug 2023
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On Wednesday, 9 August, an interfaith prayer service was held at St George’s Cathedral in Cape Town to pray for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing taxi strike in the Western Cape. 

The service was led by Michael Weeder, dean of the cathedral. Also in attendance were Cape Town’s mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis, and Mandla Hermanus, the provincial chairperson of the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco), who have been at opposite ends of the strike.  

Five people have died in violence linked to the taxi strike. More than 120 people have been arrested for various infringements, including malicious damage to property, public violence and looting, and 53 taxis have been impounded. DM

The service was well attended on Women’s day. A lot of businesses are feeling the impact of the strike. 09 August 2023. (Photo: Brenton Geach/Gallo Images)
The service was well attended on Women’s Day. A lot of businesses are feeling the impact of the strike. (Photo: Brenton Geach / Gallo Images)
Mayor of Cape Town Geordin Hill-Lewis and Santaco Western Cape chairperson Mandla Hermanus receives a blessing from Archbishop Thabo Makgoba during an Interfaith Prayer Service For Peace at St George's Cathedral. 09 August 2023. (Photo: Brenton Geach/Gallo Images)
Santaco Western Cape chairperson Mandla Hermanus and Mayor of Cape Town Geordin Hill-Lewis receive a blessing from Archbishop Thabo Makgoba during an interfaith prayer service for peace at St George's Cathedral. (Photo: Brenton Geach / Gallo Images)
Dr Allan Boesak, a former anti-apartheid activist and leader of the World Alliance of Churches, speaks during service at St George's Cathedral. </p> <p>“can we right now at this moment bring our people together, rise up and say let’s keep those issues on the agenda, but for this moment, for right now for this urgency while the kids are not going to school, while the parents are cannot go to work, while some sick person cannot get to the clinic, while somebody is dying on because they cannot get medical aid because of this….for this one moment can we come together."<br>09 August 2023. (Photo: Brenton Geach/Gallo Images)
Allan Boesak, a former anti-apartheid activist and leader of the World Alliance of Churches, speaks during the interfaith service at St George's Cathedral. (Photo: Brenton Geach / Gallo Images)
Police patrol near Borchards Quarry in Nyanga after a car and buses were set alight in the area. 06 August 2023. (Photo Brenton Geach)
Police patrol near Borchards Quarry in Nyanga after a car and buses were set alight in the area, 6 August 2023. (Photo Brenton Geach)
A fireman extinguishes a burning bus on the N2 in Cape Town. Hundreds of people were seen walking home along the N2 highway. Busses and private vehicles were set alight over the past week.09 August 2023. (Photo: Brenton Geach/Gallo Images)
A fireman extinguishes a burning bus on the N2 in Cape Town. (Photo: Brenton Geach / Gallo Images)
Commuters push to try and enter a bus at Golden Arrow Bus Station. Cape Town. 03 August 2023. Photo: Shelley Christians
Commuters push to try to enter a bus at Golden Arrow Bus Station, Cape Town, 3 August 2023. (Photo: Shelley Christians)
An armoured police vehicle known as a Nyala rides over burnt tyres in Masiphumelele informal settlement. Protesters blocked the entrance to the area with burning tyres and rocks and prevented residents from going to work during a protest action. 08 August 2023. (Photo: Brenton Geach/Gallo Images)
An armoured police vehicle, known as an Nyala, rides over burnt tyres in Masiphumelele informal settlement. (Photo: Brenton Geach / Gallo Images)
Commuters help push a child through a bus window for a space in the bus. Buses were overloaded as thousands of commuters were caught by surprise at the start of the taxi strike last week. 03 August 2023. (Photo: Shelley Christians)
Commuters help push a child through a bus window for a space in the bus. Buses were overloaded as thousands of commuters were caught by surprise at the start of the taxi strike last week, 3 August 2023. (Photo: Shelley Christians)
Residents add more tyres to the fire to block the main entrance to Masiphumelele informal settlement during the taxi strike. 08 August 2023. (Photo: Brenton Geach/Gallo Images)
Residents add more tyres to the fire to block the main entrance to Masiphumelele informal settlement during the taxi strike. (Photo: Brenton Geach / Gallo Images)

Comments (1)

Ben Harper Aug 10, 2023, 06:52 AM

I'll never forget the time a guy in a bulldozer got sick and tired of lawless taxis on Main Road Claremont and proceeded to bulldoze the taxis out of the way. Epic move that was and something that should be done the next time taxis decide to blockade roads!