Tensions rise in Cape Town as transport bosses contemplate taxi route shutdowns

A few hours after the midnight deadline, the decision on whether to close taxi routes in Cape Town and surrounds still hangs in the balance as provincial transport bosses weigh their next move.

Western Cape Mobility MEC Isaac Sileku is expected to announce a resolution regarding the potential closure of sections of the Khayelitsha to Somerset West corridor and other associated routes due to a painful surge in violence that has plagued the area in recent weeks.

Rival taxi associations, the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata) and the Congress of Democratic Taxi Associations (Codeta), were tasked with submitting written cases for the retention of their permits by midnight on Monday, a deadline that has since passed under a cloud of tension.

The Cape Argus reported that the looming decision comes on the heels of a series of brutal murders, with at least ten people killed and numerous others injured in the ongoing violence. Among the deceased was SAPS Constable Desmond Mandlevu, 42, who tragically lost his life in Lwandle last Thursday.

The situation has escalated dramatically despite a Western Cape High Court interdict, granted on August 28 and lasting until October 9, which specifically sought to prohibit violent acts, intimidation, and personal injury in the conflicted region. Nevertheless, bloodshed continues unabated, prompting Sileku to state that “tougher action is needed.”

“Violence and lawlessness have no place in our transport system,” he emphasised, stressing that “the safety of commuters and residents is our first priority. We will use every legal and regulatory mechanism to restore stability.”

A high-stakes meeting involving provincial government officials, the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco), and all eight regional taxi structures convened to assess the written submissions and chart a path forward. If the closures are sanctioned, permits for the contentious routes would be suspended, raising the stakes for defiant operators who could face fines of up to R5,000 or six months of imprisonment. Temporary permits may be issued to alternate service providers to avoid stranding commuters.

The Khayelitsha to Somerset West corridor, currently at the heart of the conflict, has earned a grim reputation as one of the province’s deadliest. The troubles first erupted when a Mfuleni association was granted rights to the M18 route yet failed to utilise them, which led a competing Lwandle-based group to initiate unauthorised return services.

This disagreement has since ignited tension in Mfuleni, Nomzamo, and other nearby areas. June saw an alarming spike in violence, with four taxi operators murdered at the Mfuleni rank, while another three were shot dead just days later. The ongoing conflict culminated in a chaotic week in August, resulting in seven fatalities and eight injuries spread across several townships.

In a statement reflecting on the ongoing situation, Parliament’s transport portfolio committee chair Donald Selamolela underscored that the violence has thrust a national crisis into the spotlight. “The taxi industry carries 50 million commuters daily. The current instability is unacceptable,” he noted. “We send condolences to the families who have lost loved ones, but also demand accountability from the associations.”

Selamolela's appeal for an amicable resolution between Codeta and Cata echoed sentiments from both sides. Cata spokesperson Nkululeko Sityebi asserted, “We are not agreeing on being pushed out of the Khayelitsha to Somerset West route. We do not mind sharing, but exclusion will not work for us.”

Meanwhile, Codeta chairperson Nceba Enge confirmed that consultations with their members were ongoing, emphasising their demand to operate a return service from Somerset West as a core issue.

For commuters, Tuesday's decision could spell the difference between safe, regulated transportation options and an escalating state of chaos.

IOL