About 60 Cape Town taxis — described as "moving time bombs" — are to be scrapped next month, the Cape Argus reported on Tuesday.

Western Cape Taxi Council chairperson Junaid Peters said the vehicles were scheduled to be destroyed on 10 February.

The old taxis, described by a metro police official as "moving time bombs", had great defects, such as inadequate brakes, smooth tyres and broken ignition systems.

They only operated in certain areas of the Cape Flats and most were unregistered, unlicensed and did not have operating permits.

The roll-out of new vehicles would begin after the scrapping under the government's recapitalisation programme which aims to formalise the industry.

But it was not clear if the owners of unlicensed vehicles, and those without permits, would benefit from the programme.

Provincial transport spokesman Eric Ntabazalila said meetings between the province, the taxi council and scrapping agents would take place soon.

They were intended to discuss how the owners of unlicensed vehicles and those without permits could be assisted by the programme.

Sapa

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