For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Madiba.

Making headlines: Santaco set to meet after vehicles impounded over the weekend; Steenhuisen says Moonshot Pact ready for lift-off ahead of national convention; And, South African diplomat says Brics isn’t competing with any bloc

Santaco set to meet after vehicles impounded over the weekend

The South African National Taxi Council is set to convene an urgent meeting today after six minibus taxis were impounded over the weekend despite an agreement reached with the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape government last week.

Santaco staged an eight-day strike earlier this month against the City of Cape Town impounding dozens of vehicles over a range of infractions, including number plates not being displayed, taxi operators claimed.

Taxi officials believe the offending drivers should have been issued fines instead of having their vehicles impounded.

The strike was marred by confusion over whether the metro was enforcing a by-law in impounding the vehicles or whether they were seized based on regulations in the National Land Transport Act.

Following the eight-day stayaway, the association reached an agreement with the City that no more taxis would be impounded within the next 14 days while they resolve the issues.

Over the weekend, up to 14 taxis were impounded by City law enforcement officers.

Steenhuisen says Moonshot Pact ready for lift-off ahead of national convention

As political parties prepare to sit for the “historic” Muti-Party National Convention on Wednesday and Thursday, Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen said on Monday that the event is a major milestone, and an opportunity that should not be wasted.

He stressed that the convention should not be just an anti-African National Congress project, but that it must be a pro-South African project.

Steenhuisen assured citizens that his party would continue to act in good faith and in the spirit of cooperation and he stressed his hope that political parties would leave the convention with an agreement on how parties could work together to fix the problems plaguing the country.

The Independent South African National Civic Organisation became the seventh party that will attend the Convention. Isanco broke away from the ANC alliance in 2021 owing to its failure to address corruption.

The DA, Inkatha Freedom Party, Freedom Front Plus, ActionSA, United Independent Movement and the Spectrum National Party will be attending the Convention.

Steenhuisen said leaders must ensure that the Convention inaugurates a new Pact government in 2024 that will rescue South Africa.

And, South African diplomat says Brics isn’t competing with any bloc

The Brics group of emerging market powers aims to promote the interests of the developing world and isn’t in competition with any other bloc, a top South African diplomat said.

South Africa’s ambassador to Brics Anil Sooklal said there’s an unfortunate narrative being developed that Brics is anti-West, that Brics was created as competition to the G7 or the Global North”. He said that is incorrect.

Brics, which comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, is scheduled to host its annual summit next week in Johannesburg, where leaders will discuss whether to admit more nations to its ranks. Forty heads of State and government have confirmed their attendance, and that number could rise to about 50, Sooklal said.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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