Delft has been brought to a standstill by a bloody feud between rival taxi associations in the area, forcing transport authorities to take action that could lead to taxi ranks being closed down and operating licences suspended.
Violence between the Delft Taxi Association (DTA) and the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata) has left two taxi drivers dead.
Cata wants to operate 50 taxis in Delft, but DTA won’t allow it.
DTA chairman Nazeem Daniels said there would be “bloodshed” if the Nyanga-based Cata forced the issue.
“There is going to be bloodshed if Cata is going to come and operate here without our consent,” he told the Cape Argus.
“This is our base, just like Nyanga is their base. They cannot continue to take food from our tables.”
Cata chairman Victor Wiwi insists they have permits to operate in Delft and will use them.
Yesterday, police continued to monitor the tense area while the Delft taxi rank and several roads remain closed, forcing thousands of commuters to walk to nearby areas to get a bus or taxi.
MONITOR: Cops at Delft taxi rank
Police slammed rumours on social media of an all-out war in Delft and Nyanga that led to the torching of buses.
Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk said: “People are urged to refrain from making spurious comments on social media platforms which cause unnecessary panic. We have noted with concern images of burning buses that are circulated on social media platforms which are not linked to the current situation and occurred some time ago.
Stone throwing
“Only one incident of stone throwing was reported in the area (yesterday) morning and circumstances are still being investigated.”
As part of police operations in Delft, three firearms were seized and 14 taxi operators detained but subsequently released.
On Tuesday, 10 moving Cata taxis fired shots in the direction of Delft Main Road. Van Wyk said 23 people were arrested and eight taxis impounded.
On Wednesday, Nyanga bus terminus was shut down after taxi drivers chased buses away.
A bus driver was hospitalised after a bus was stoned.
Transport MEC Donald Grant said he would place a notice in the Government Gazette to declare Delft “a high-risk area for public transport”.