The Executive Mayor of Cape Town, Alderman Patricia de Lille, together with the Minister for Transport and Public Works in the Western Cape, Robin Carlisle and the Minister for Community Safety, Dan Plato, will officially open the City’s new Maitland Vehicular Impoundment Centre on Thursday 21 June 2012.

The facility will double the City’s current capacity for impounded private vehicles and minibus taxis, which had previously been limited to the Ndabeni Vehicle Impoundment Centre. The bulk of impoundments to date have been taxis operating illegally, either without permits or outside of their designated routes. Since the beginning of this year, 532 taxis have been impounded, of which 367 were minibuses and 139 sedans.

“Impounding vehicles has proven to be one of the most effective weapons in our law enforcement arsenal, largely because there is simply no way for the guilty party to ignore it. It has been particularly effective in reducing route invasions and preventing the kind of horrific taxi violence that is still prevalent elsewhere in South Africa. I am also interested in expanding the range of offences for which vehicles can be impounded,” said Minister Carlisle.

“Increasing law-abiding behaviour on the roads, especially that of the high-profile minibus taxi industry, has had a positive impact on the number of fatalities in the Province. Since 2009, we have experienced a 29% drop and are well on our way to achieving the goal of a 50% reduction by 2014 which I set my department on taking office,” added Carlisle.

The new impound facility will constitute the fifth for the province, with pounds in Ndabeni, Beaufort West, George, and most recently in Hermanus.

Pictures: Maitland Vehicle Impound Facility Opening Ceremony