The South African National Taxi Council in the Western Cape (Santaco WC) welcomes the commitments made by the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata) and the Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (Codeta) towards ending the recent taxi-related violence that has disrupted operations, threatened commuter safety and resulted in tragic loss of life.
The commitments follow a stakeholder engagement held on Monday 2 November involving the Western Cape Department of Mobility, the City of Cape Town and the respective taxi associations.
Both associations have agreed to end the violence and participate in an independently facilitated process aimed at addressing the underlying causes of the conflict.
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Santaco WC will observe the process, which will begin with engagements this week to identify key concerns ahead of a follow-up meeting with the provincial government on Tuesday 10 November.
Commitments alone are not enough — Ndungane
Santaco Western Cape provincial chair Besuthu Ndungane welcomed the commitments, emphasising the importance of translating them into meaningful action.
“Today’s engagement is an important step towards restoring peace and stability in our industry. However, commitments alone are not enough. We call on all parties to honour their word and ensure that no more lives are lost over disputes that can be resolved through dialogue.”
Santaco WC acknowledged the fear and uncertainty experienced by commuters and communities affected by the violence and remained committed to working with all stakeholders to restore stability and support the continued operation of public transport services.
The council further urged commuters to rely on verified information from official communication channels regarding taxi operations and affected routes.
Santaco WC reiterated that violence had no place in the industry and that lasting peace can only be achieved through dialogue, cooperation and accountability.
Government welcomes commitments
In a statement the Western Cape Department of Mobility said the Western Cape government and City of Cape Town had also welcomed the commitments made by Cata and Codeta following a meeting with the two associations today.
“Both associations have agreed to take part in a process where independent facilitators will help them discuss and resolve issues affecting the minibus taxi industry. Santaco Western Cape will observe the facilitation process. Both associations have committed to ending the violence.”
As part of the agreement stakeholders will identify the most urgent issues to discuss this week. The parties will then meet again with the Western Cape government next Tuesday 10 November to continue the discussions.
Western Cape Minister of Mobility Isaac Sileku welcomed the commitments and called on both associations to honour them.
“Today’s meeting is a step in the right direction. But the violence must stop. This is non-negotiable. Both associations must put down their guns and work towards a peaceful solution. Residents must be able to use public transport without fearing for their lives. We owe it to them to make this process work.”
The Western Cape government and City of Cape Town will continue working together to support the discussions, enforce the law and protect residents while efforts to restore peace continue.
