ROAD BLOCK

The Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (Codeta) has indicated that it will challenge the six-week closure of the four contentious routes.

This comes after the Western Cape Government took action after another flare up in taxi-related killings over a dispute between Codeta and rivals Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata). 

The conflict left 10 people dead and five others injured in five days last week.

The Western Cape Department of Mobility then filed an urgent interdict at the High Court last Thursday to prohibit members of the affected taxi associations Codeta, Cata and affiliates from interfering with transport services at the Somerset West taxi rank, Somerset West Mall, and on four key routes: Route 611 (Khayelitsha – Somerset West), Route 43 (Lwandle – Khayelitsha), Route M18 (Mfuleni – Somerset West) and Route X19 (Nomzamo – Mfuleni).

Two days before the application, the associations sat in a meeting which didn’t produce any results, and they have not met again.

The interdict also prohibits threats, intimidation, or interference with other minibus taxi operators or their drivers.

It also requires minibus taxi associations to follow the rules of their existing operating licences; and directs them to act immediately to stop unlawful behaviour and to report back to the court within three days of the steps which have been taken.

The order will remain in force until 9 October 9,when the court will decide whether to make it permanent.

Codeta spokesperson Makhosandile Tumana said they are consulting with their lawyers.

He said: “I think that the government is unnecessary, and should be blamed for the shootings, but ran to court. We are trying to figure out what steps to take to hold the Western Cape Government accountable, as they created these issues.

“We think that the wrong practice they did with Cata - returning with our commuters to Mfuleni and Khayelitsha from Somerset, shows us that the government supports this, ignoring the permits that Mfuleni taxis have, which they have seen that they issued.

"We don’t have operating licences from Somerset. They need to make a ruling because this has been going on for many years, and they are the regulators in all of this.”

Meanwhile, Cata spokesperson Nkululeko Sityebi said they hope to hash out their differences.

“We have not yet thought about challenging the interdict. The government must do what it thinks is best to end the conflict.

“We failed to sit down and resolve this, and we will only challenge it after we find the resolution.

“This has happened before; the government would close the routes and then impound our cars, and then get Golden Arrow Bus Services in our routes, just like Route B97, from Bellville to Mbekweni/Paarl, and the buses are still operating there.”

Both parties stated that they are willing to attend another meeting to resolve their issues.