Members of the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) marched to the Nyanga Police Station following the torching of several taxis at the Nyanga taxi terminus on Friday.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/ Independent Newspapers
Members of the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) marched to the Nyanga police station on Monday to raise concerns about the safety of their vehicles following last week’s torching of several taxis at the Nyanga taxi rank.
The operators handed over a memorandum of grievances, urging police to prioritise investigations into taxi-related killings within the CATA association, particularly along the Sea Water route. Association leaders allege that these attacks and killings are being orchestrated from within the organisation.
One taxi operator from the Sea Water route said members have been targeted and extorted for R200 per taxi over the past five years.
Taxis were torched at Nyanga taxi rank in the early hours of Friday.
Image: Siyavuya Khaya
He added that the operators have filed an extortion case at the police station and have temporarily suspended taxis belonging to operators they believed to be involved in the extortion, pending resolution.
“People are living in fear because of how things are done in this association. We have taken a bold decision to stand up for what we believe is right. We want this organisation to function properly,” he said.
He also described personal experiences of the violence. “I was attacked sometime last year, and one of my bodyguards was shot and killed,” he said.
CATA spokesperson Nkululeko Sityebi said the march followed the recent arson attack.
“We are demanding that police leave no stone unturned in bringing the person behind this to face the wrath of the law,” he said.
He added that taxi services were temporarily suspended during the morning but resumed operations after the march.
Police spokesperson Andre Traut confirmed that the memorandum had been handed over.
“The matter is currently under review, and SAPS will engage with the parties concerned regarding the issues raised,” he said.
This comes as the Western Cape High Court has issued an interdict against several taxi associations and individuals operating in Atlantis, Saxonwold, and Witsand, aimed at preventing transport-related intimidation and illegal operations
The interdict follows a taxi violence-related shooting outside a local high school that claimed two lives.
On February 25, local businessman and taxi owner Eugene Titus and a 14-year-old Grade 8 girl were killed in the shooting that rang out outside Atlantis Senior Secondary. Two other school pupils were injured in the same shooting.
Cape Times