The Western Cape government was on Thursday finalising plans to close certain taxi routes and ranks to quell violence.
Provincial transport minister Mcebisi Skhwatsha said on Thursday that following an unsuccessful dispute-resolution meeting on Wednesday with the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association and the Congress of Democratic Taxi Associations, he ordered the closure and suspension of routes in Kraaifontein, Brackenfell and Bellville.
”It was a very ugly meeting — they could not agree. There had been a shooting in the morning [in Brackenfell] and I saw we were not making progress. So I told them we will close the meeting and we will close the ranks that they are fighting over,” Mkhatshwa said.
He said his department subsequently decided also to suspend permits applicable to the disputed routes to stop operations completely. The legal requirements relating to the closures are being finalised and once completed, the ranks could stay closed for up to 30 days.
”It comes with great inconvenience to commuters but it might save their lives,” he said.
Police spokesperson Captain Elliot Sinyangana said that police are following up leads after a passing bakkie opened fire on a taxi and injured two passengers on Wednesday. They were taken to hospital for treatment.
Earlier in the year, at least three taxi drivers and owners were shot dead, leading Western Cape Premier Ebrahim Rasool to intervene.
The associations have previously been implicated in violence, including attacks on Golden Arrow buses.
The current dispute appears to revolve around routes between Khayelitsha, Bellville, the new Cape Gate mall at Brackenfell and Kraaifontein.
Cape police are monitoring the situation and the transport department is considering alternative transport arrangements.
Transport spokesperson Themba Nobatana said the affected routes will be detailed in a proclamation, expected later on Thursday. — Sapa