Dial-A-Ride (DAR) commuters in Nyanga and surrounding areas have been left stranded after the City of Cape Town halted its services in the area due to taxi violence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The affected areas include Nyanga, Philippi, Crossroads and Samora Machel. The suspension came into effect on Friday 18 March until further notice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The decision has left scores of passengers who rely on the buses out in the cold. DAR transports commuters with special needs who cannot use other conventional public transport. The buses are wheelchair-friendly, providing easy access for wheelchair-bound people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
DAR commuter James Soganga, from Zwelitsha in Nyanga, says he and others are disappointed by the City\u2019s decision, although they understand their challenge. He said financially the move was going to affect them seriously. \u201cWe are very disappointed by the news because DAR is our hope. Most of us [physically challenged] are unemployed and can\u2019t afford to hire transport to work. For example, hiring a car from Nyanga to Cape Town is R400. If the car is going to wait until you finish, what you are paying is R550.\u201d Soganga blamed the taxi drivers for having no sympathy for disables people. \u201cWhen we use public transport we pay double the price because we have to pay for a wheelchair. If you don\u2019t have money to pay for it you must put it on your lap,\u201d he explained. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said DAR commuters are now becoming the victims of something they don\u2019t know. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another commuter, Nomapha Ngcongco, also from Nyanga, described the suspension of the service as a hard pill to swallow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe advantage of using DAR is it takes us from our doorstep right to work and does the same when we go home,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ngcongco appealed to those behind the strike to stop it, saying it affects a lot of people with no interest in the matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mayco Member for Urban Mobility Rob Quintas said the City, through its service provider, will inform users once it is safe to operate in their areas. \u201cThe City cannot risk the lives of the passengers and our staff while this violence continues. We will only resume operations once it is safe to do so. We are monitoring other volatile areas and may need to suspend the service in other parts of the city as well. The service provider will keep users informed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said it\u2019s very disheartening to think these individuals with special needs, who are most vulnerable and dependent on the City\u2019s assistance, have to be left stranded in difficult economic times. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Quintas stated that with the service now being suspended residents do not have certainty about their transport to work or important appointments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI condemn this unrest in the strongest possible terms. I appeal to all to remain calm as violence will not solve anything. In fact, it will only make matters worse and must stop.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Dial-A-Ride (DAR) commuters in Nyanga and surrounding areas have been left stranded after the City of Cape Town halted its services in the area due to taxi 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