Thousands of commuters in Nyanga are expected to be stranded after taxi operators decided to halt services due to safety concerns, with the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) citing transport disruptions and violence as the main reasons. The decision was made following a meeting on Sunday, where drivers expressed their concerns about the ongoing shootings and rank tensions in the area.
The move comes despite a court-sanctioned agreement requiring taxi associations to give at least 36 hours’ notice to the municipality and the provincial government before staging any protest action. CATA spokesperson Nkululeko Sityebi said the original plan had been to continue operating during the morning peak before staging a march later in the day to demand progress in several unsolved shooting cases.
Taxi Violence on the Rise
Drivers are expected to march to the Nyanga police station to demand increased security at the Nyanga taxi rank and the installation of surveillance cameras. Among the incidents drivers want addressed is a shooting in November last year in which two women were killed and eight other people injured when a group of taxi owners was attacked while preparing to attend a meeting at the rank.
Tensions escalated further last week when nine taxis were set alight at the Nyanga taxi rank in the early hours of Friday. Industry sources said the problems facing CATA were complex and included internal disputes and allegations that some operators have defected to rival taxi associations.
Demands for Action
The following are some of the key demands made by the taxi drivers:
- Increased security at the Nyanga taxi rank
- Installation of surveillance cameras
- Progress in several unsolved shooting cases
According to the South African Police Service, there have been no breakthroughs in the recent killings despite a R100 000 reward offered by the City.
The Western Cape police commissioner, Thembisile Patekile, said the violence was linked to floor crossing and route conflicts. The violence started with the route in Table View and Atlantis, and has already turned deadly, with three taxi operators and a 14-year-old schoolgirl killed.
