Relative calm has returned to the Western Cape public transport network after weeks of deadly violence that left at least six dead and scores injured over the past week as rival taxi associations clashed over lucrative routes in the province.
The violence has claimed the lives of 83 people since the start of the year.
The provincial government moved to close down the routes in question at the weekend, which has helped ease tensions, and force the associations to the negotiating table.
“We acknowledge calm is not enough,” Western Cape premier Alan Winde said on Tuesday during a media briefing.
“We need to find a solution that allows all our residents to get to work, to health facilities and to school safely. Where there is violence, there must be arrests and successful prosecution. The safety of our residents is non-negotiable,” Winde said.
At the heart of the latest unrest is a dispute between the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association and the Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (Codeta) over lucrative routes in and around the Cape metro, particularly the route between Mbekweni and Bellville.
The clashes left many commuters stranded, which affected their incomes and the productivity of many businesses in the province. The unrest also derailed the government’s Covid-19 vaccination drive as many residents were unable to get to inoculation sites.
At least 60% of residents in the Western Cape rely on public transport, including taxis, buses and trains, to get around.
The provincial government said arbitration proceedings between the taxi associations restarted earlier on Tuesday as part of the legal process to resolve the dispute over routes.
Western Cape transport MEC Daylin Mitchell said the minibus taxi route between Mbekweni and Bellville will remain closed for two months. This means no taxis can operate along the route.
“I took this decision in the interest of protecting the commuter, after a surge in taxi-related shootings and murders in and around Cape Town over the last few months,” Mitchell said.
“My department is working together with other departments and SAPS [SA Police Service] on an intergovernmental, co-operative approach to deal with the cycle of violence … We draw a line in the sand as far as criminal behaviour is concerned.”
Mitchell said additional buses will be provided by bus transport company Golden Arrow to service affected routes. Metrorail will also ramp up its operations in the area.
Community safety MEC Albert Fritz said: “They [law enforcement officials] have really worked well together, and once we get through this trying time, I look forward to applying a similar approach of co-ordination and co-operation to tackling the other crime and violence ills in our province.”
Provincial police commissioner Lt-Gen Thembisile Patekile said on Tuesday morning five taxis were impounded on the closed routes. Five fines ranging from R2,500 to R7,000 were imposed on the drivers, amounting to a total of R30,500.
“After physical assessment of the situation at transport hubs in Mbekweni, Bellville, Khayelitsha and Nyanga on Monday, coupled with the latest situational reports [on Tuesday] from all identified hotspots within the province, the situation remains relatively calm. No incidents have been reported to the police,” Patekile said.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.