The Western Cape High Court has issued an interdict against several taxi associations to prevent intimidation and violence in Atlantis, Saxonwold, and Witsand, following a tragic shooting incident that claimed two lives, including a 14-year-old girl and a local businessman.
The incident occurred on February 25 outside Atlantis Senior Secondary, where two other school pupils were injured in the shooting. The Atlantis taxi industry has since experienced severe instability, necessitating the intervention by the High Court, launched by Western Cape Mobility MEC, Isaac Sileku.
Taxi Violence Interdict
The interdict is directed at the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata), Saxonwold Local Taxi Association, Congress of Democratic Taxi Associations (Codeta), Atlantis Taxi Association, CODETA Khayelitsha Killarney Local Taxi Association, and nine named individuals. The court order specifically applies to areas where incidents of interference have been reported.
The court order prohibits the respondents, including their officials, employees, and drivers, from interfering with any form of public or private transport. This includes a ban on assaulting, intimidating, or threatening drivers, operators, or staff of other taxi associations or transport services.
Conditions of the Interdict
The taxi organisations and individuals in the court papers were directed to comply with the conditions of the operating licences issued to them, which are to offer public transport services. They are prohibited from rendering any taxi-related minibus service, to and from Atlantis, without having been issued with operating licences to offer such services.
MEC Sileku welcomed the interdict order, stating that the intervention reinforces the rule of law and prioritises the safety of residents, who rely on these routes every day. For more information on the Western Cape government’s efforts to address taxi violence, visit the Western Cape Government website.
The following taxi associations and individuals are affected by the interdict:
- Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata)
- Saxonwold Local Taxi Association
- Congress of Democratic Taxi Associations (Codeta)
- Atlantis Taxi Association
- CODETA Khayelitsha Killarney Local Taxi Association
Residents can report any incidents of intimidation or violence to the authorities. The Western Cape government is committed to ensuring the safety of all residents and will continue to work with law enforcement agencies to address taxi violence in the province. For updates on the latest news and developments, visit lldnews.com.
