The Western Cape Mobility Department has applied for urgent court intervention to address ongoing violence linked to disputed taxi operating rights in Cape Town. This legal step comes as shootings related to clashes between taxi associations CATA and CODETA continue to unsettle communities, with incidents reported in Somerset West, Khayelitsha, Epping, Delft, Bonteheuwel, and Maitland.
On 28 October, gunmen opened fire at the Palm taxi rank in Delft, injuring two men who were rushed to hospital. Police spokesperson Thembakazi Mpendukana confirmed that two attempted murder cases and one discharge of a firearm case were opened in connection with the shooting. The Delft taxi rank was shut down following the attack. As of the latest updates, no arrests have been made for this specific incident, while investigations are ongoing.
Provincial authorities have linked the spike in violence to disputes over routes and operating rights between the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) and the Congress of Democratic Taxi Associations (CODETA). According to the Western Cape Government, law enforcement efforts have resulted in two arrests connected to the recent wave of taxi violence.
Western Cape Mobility Minister Isaac Sileku condemned the violence, stating, “No dispute over routes or operating rights is worth a human life. Residents deserve to travel safely, without fear or disruption.” The province is exploring urgent court orders to halt unlawful route takeovers and to stabilise the affected taxi ranks.
Johan Brandt, Commissioner for the City of Cape Town’s Safety and Security Directorate, emphasised the impact on daily commutes: “We will ensure that people get to work and back safely because we can’t be sitting with a situation where our communities are prevented from getting to work and back.”
Community tension remains high in hotspots such as Delft and Khayelitsha, where conflicts over taxi routes have a long and troubled history. The provincial government has coordinated meetings via the Transport Priority Committee, which met on 23 October to align responses between law enforcement and transport regulators.
Taxi associations have also engaged in talks. CODETA chairperson Nceba Enge described recent meetings with the government, saying, “The meeting is pertaining the ongoing taxi violence, so the discussions are around that so that this can stop.”
This legal intervention marks a significant escalation in the government’s approach, combining regulatory scrutiny with law enforcement to restore order. Earlier efforts focused largely on policing and mediation, but the current strategy includes court applications aimed at stopping unlawful control of routes.
The broader context reveals a pattern of harsh competition between taxi groups across the Western Cape, exacerbating instability in transport hubs critical to the daily lives of thousands of residents. The impact extends beyond violence, affecting economic activity and community safety.
At this stage, the exact outcomes of the court applications remain pending. Responsibility for specific violent acts, including the Delft shooting, has not been legally determined. Cape Flats.co.za will continue monitoring developments and provide updates as new information emerges.