A peace agreement between warring taxi associations Cata and Codeta has been brokered by UDM leader Bantu Holomisa and Saftu General-Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi.
One of the suggestions from both Cata and Codeta is that they must be held accountable and fined if any of their members step out of line.
Holomisa and Vavi have been engaging with the associations since Saturday, and yesterday presented a “Peace Treaty” document which will be issued to the government later this week.
The agreement includes a ceasefire with immediate effect, and an appeal to Transport MEC Daylin Mitchell to lift the ban on certain routes and ranks he closed on Monday.
Holomisa was called by the taxi bosses to intervene after Mitchell, National Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula as well as Minister of Police Bheki Cele failed to make any inroads following two weeks of violence which saw 24 people killed and 29 others injured.
In the document, Cata and Codeta detail their versions of what led to the conflict and also recommend possible solutions.
According to them, Mbalula had wanted them to sign peace agreements without ironing out their problems first.
Holomisa said negotiations went well and the document would be sent to the ministers for consideration.
Cata and Codeta agreed that the Bellville/Mbekweni route is the problem.
At the heart of the matter is the fact that three years ago, the Paarl Alliance became affiliated to Codeta and started poaching members from the Cata Boland Association on a large scale, leading to the closure of Cata Boland.
Questions were raised as to why authorities allowed taxi drivers to cross over to rival associations with their operating permits intact.
Another suggestion was that both associations share routes.
There are 27 routes in Mbekweni/Paarl, and Cata said it is prepared to compromise on 26 routes in return for just one route from Bellville to Mbekweni/Paarl.
If the compromise is not agreed to, Cata has suggested that it operate at a 50/50 split with Codeta on the Mbekweni/Paarl and Bellville routes and surrounding areas.
Codeta suggested that Cata taxi drivers not load in Paarl. They must drop off commuters and go back to Bellville, and Codeta would do the same in Bellville.
In the long term, the associations want the government to subsidise them as they do with private bus companies.
They also want the government to stop issuing operating licences for the same route to competing taxi associations.
Meanwhile, Provincial Police Commissioner, Lt Gen Thembisile Patekile said although no violence was reported yesterday, cops have impounded several taxis caught on the closed route between Bellville and Mbekweni.
“On Tuesday morning, between 6am and 8.30am, five taxis were impounded by the integrated forces on the closed B97 route for either operating without permit or contravention of permit stipulations,” he says.
“Five fines ranging from R2500 to R7000 were imposed on the drivers.
“The total amount for the fines issued is R30 500.”
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