Formal mediation talks to resolve the deadly taxi route dispute began on Monday (31 August), following a wave of violence that has claimed at least five lives in the Helderberg since June.

The provincial Department of Mobility announced the talks after meeting with the provincial leadership of the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco), affected regions and primary associations last Monday (24 August).

The meeting aimed to address heightened tensions on the Khayelitsha-Somerset West route.

The parties agreed to participate in mediation to resolve the conflict and prevent further violence.

The mediation comes less than two weeks after two men were murdered in Lwandle on Thursday 20 August (“Two killed in taxi violence,” DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette, 27 August). The killings are part of a wave of taxi violence across the Helderberg since June, linked to the ongoing route dispute between the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association and the Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (Codeta).

The violence has persisted, despite the Western Cape High Court handing suspended sentences to Codeta and 23 individuals last month for defying court orders (“Taxi: Courts clamp down,” 29 July).

Muneera Allie of the Department of Mobility said they are committed to ensuring safe public transport. “Every commuter has the right to travel safely and every operator and driver has the right to work without fear,” she said, adding traffic officers will be more visibile on key routes, impound non-compliant vehicles and work with law enforcement agencies and stakeholders for stability.