Negotiation breakdown fuels taxi violence in the Western Cape

Taxi violence over the Khayelitsha-Somerset West Route continues to spiral despite marathon talks and a court interdict.

Rival associations Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata) and Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (Codeta) are still deadlocked over control of the contested routes.

Codeta chairperson Nceba Enge said that the associations were given until Monday to propose a resolution, but hours of meetings yielded no breakthrough.

Cata spokesperson Nkululeko Sityebi rejected a proposal that would see Codeta operate the Khayelitsha–Somerset West route exclusively.

“We are not agreeing on Cata being pushed out of the Khayelitsha–Somerset West (route),” he said.

“The proposal that Codeta should drive to and from Somerset West and our members who have been operating there must now be excluded will not work for us. We don’t mind sharing the route as we have said before.”

Enge said his organisation was still consulting.

“We will meet with the MEC (Isaac Sileku) on Monday and give him feedback on the meeting, even though we are still deadlocked. We have been clear about what we want, and it is to return with our passengers from Somerset West,” Enge said.

The talks occurred against a grim backdrop.

Constable Desmond Mandlevu was shot and killed on Thursday morning, prompting Sileku to issue a warning that violence was escalating even as the government continued to mediate.

The Western Cape High Court had already stepped in on August 28, issuing an interim order against both associations and their members.

The order bars them from interfering with transport services, intimidating operators, or disregarding licence conditions on routes including 611, 43, M18, and X19, as well as at Somerset West Mall and the public transport interchange.

The associations must show by October 9 why the order should not be made final. A September 3 hearing was postponed to September 11, leaving the order binding and enforceable in the meantime.

In parallel, the department has issued a Notice of Intent under Section 91 of the National Land Transport Act, signalling its readiness to close the contested routes altogether should the violence continue. Section 91 gives the province the power to suspend operations in the interest of public safety.

“Violence and lawlessness have no place in our communities or our transport system,” Sileku said after meeting both associations on Friday.

“The safety of commuters and residents is our first priority, and we will use every legal and regulatory mechanism at our disposal to restore stability.”

The MEC said contentious issues were thrashed out during the meeting, with both associations agreeing on the urgent need for peace, though no permanent solution has been reached.

Another joint session involving the two mother bodies and the department is expected in the coming days.

The taxi turf war is not new. For years, Cata and Codeta have battled over lucrative routes in and out of Somerset West, often leaving commuters caught in the crossfire.

The latest shooting in Lwandle and Mandlevu’s killing has deepened fears among residents who rely heavily on minibus taxis.

Those fears were heightened again on Friday evening when gunmen opened fire at the Nyanga taxi rank.

Western Cape police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Malcolm Pojie confirmed two men were injured when a disciplinary officer and bodyguards were ambushed.

Nyanga SAPS registered two counts of attempted murder. The motive is still under investigation, and no arrests have been made.

The police appealed to the public for information.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or via the MySAPS mobile application.

* This story has been amended to reflect that Codeta chairperson Nceba Enge, and not the Western Cape Mobility Department, said that the associations were given until Monday to propose a resolution, but hours of meetings yielded no breakthrough. 

** We apologise for any inconvenience caused by the publication of the original article.

Cape Times