The situation in Cape Town continues to intensify as taxi associations escalate a war that has, thus far, been ignored by law enforcement.
Cape Town’s public transit system at a standstill
On Monday, Swisher Post News reported that two suspects were arrested for allegedly shooting at a company minibus that was picking up workers in Langa township.
Also, on the same day, reports of shooting were made in Nyanga East as well as Mfuleni. Perhaps, the most egregious incident from Monday’s unrest came when a Golden Arrow bus driver was randomly attacked on the N2 highway.
It’s believed the driver was shot in the mouth for simply performing his duty of transporting commuters to their respective destinations.
When the evening came, the true extent of the Cape Town taxi war between the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) and Congress of Democratic Taxi Association (CODETA) was felt when public transit points were packed with stranded commuters.
Has any government official addressed the sad situation happening in Cape Town? People are stranded, due to #TaxiViolence
— Sphithiphithi Evaluator (@_AfricanSoil) July 19, 2021
Commuters are not safe, gunshots everywhere, can someone in this country for once think about citizens? Just once! This will cause a fatal stampede pic.twitter.com/U4fp1GHUWX
Cape Town taxi war: Shootings continue unabated
In Langa and Nyanga East, several shootings involving taxis were reported and eyewitnesses captured these shocking videos of the situation.
Notice that in both videos, the brazen level of lawlessness is allowed to continue without a single police official in sight.
As recieved. Langa a few hours ago in Langa. #TaxiViolence pic.twitter.com/rBPqe2rZUr
— Athi Mtongana (@Artii_M) July 19, 2021
Nyanga terminus late this afternoon into this evening.
— Athi Mtongana (@Artii_M) July 19, 2021
As received from sources on the ground. #TaxiViolence pic.twitter.com/hqBYfd6GiN
Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula addressed the media, on Monday, and confirmed that talks between CATA and CODETA are ongoing and it is hoped that a resolution will be met soon to put an end to a war that has affected Cape Town’s commuters.
“We have started an important journey. We have not finished anything. We have to bring this matter of conflict between CATA and CODETA to a reasonable standstill,” he said.
The minister revealed that at the heart of the dispute between taxi associations is the Paarl-to-Mbekweni route that both CATA and CODETA claim ownership of.
A peace treaty was signed in 2020 but it seems things have turned for the worst and a new approach may be needed.
“We were here last year and were encouraged by signs that the industry had turned over a new leaf. A peace pledge was signed; the mediation process was initiated and it was well underway … We are disappointed by the recent turn of events,” Mbalula said.
On Tuesday, taxi ranks in townships were still at a standstill. Commuters and motorists have been urged to practice extreme levels of caution and to, at best, avoid venturing out onto the road where, at any minute, they could be in the crossfire of an ongoing war.