The Western Cape High Court handed a suspended 90-day prison sentences to the Congress of Democratic Taxi Associations (Codeta) and 23 individuals for defying court orders prohibiting intimidation and interference on key public transport routes.
The court found that Codeta and the respondents violated interim orders issued on 28 August and 10 December 2025. These orders interdicted them from interfering with public transport services, intimidating operators, or breaching operating licence conditions on specified routes and at key public transport facilities.
The ruling applies to operations at the Somerset West Public Transport Interchange and Routes 611 (Khayelitsha to Somerset West), AA20 (Khayelitsha to Somerset West CBD via Vergelegen Medical Clinic), AA21 (Khayelitsha to Sitari Village Mall), R96 (Khayelitsha to Somerset West via Somerset Mall), and R97 (Khayelitsha to Waterstone Mall and Somerset West).
The sentences are suspended for three years, provided the respondents comply with the court orders during this period. Failure to comply will result in the respondents serving the 90-day prison term.
Isaac Sileku, minister for Mobility in the Western Cape, welcomed the judgment, stating it sends a strong message that the law must be respected and that commuter and operator safety remains a priority.
Every commuter deserves to travel safely, and every operator should be able to work without fear
He emphasised that lasting peace requires more than court action: “It requires everyone to respect the law, support law enforcement and resolve disputes peacefully.”
The Department of Mobility will continue collaborating with law enforcement to enforce the court order, monitor affected routes and ensure commuters access to safe and reliable public transport.
The contempt ruling comes amid ongoing taxi violence in the area. Three fatal shootings occurred in Lwandle over one weekend this month, linked to the ongoing taxi-route dispute between the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata) and Codeta (“Deadly taxi chaos erupts”, DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette, 8 July).
Provincial traffic officers have also impounded several minibus taxis operating in violation of their licence conditions on the Somerset West-Khayelitsha route. The recent violence is apparently a continuation of last year’s dispute.
