Police Officer Among Five Dead In SA Taxi Strike

Five people, including a 40-year-old British national and a police officer have died in violent protests related to the taxi strike in Cape Town, South Africa.

This comes after a week-long strike was called by the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco).

The strike was in response to what the drivers called “heavy-handed tactics” by law enforcement authorities.

The UK issued a South Africa travel warning after the strike was listed as a high security threat.

The taxi strike is expected to continue after negotiations broke down between Santaco and the provincial government led by the Democratic Alliance.

Meanwhile Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga has ordered the immediate release of minibus taxis impounded by the city authorities.

She said the legislation used by the city had been executed and implemented wrongly.

Taxi drivers and owners claimed their vehicles were being targeted and impounded for minor offences such as not wearing a seat belt and illegally driving on the emergency lane, whereas other motorists were merely issued fines for similar offences.

BBC/Jide Johnson.