The Western Cape High Court has handed down suspended 90-day prison sentences to the Congress of Democratic Taxi Associations (Codeta) and 23 others for defying court orders that banned intimidation and interference in key public-transport routes.

The court found that the association and individuals had violated interim orders granted on 28 August and 10 December 2025, which interdicted them from interfering with public transport services, intimidating operator, or violating operating licence conditions on specified routes and at key public transport facilities.

The order applies to operations at the Somerset West Public Transport Interchange and Routes 611 (Khayelitsha – Somerset West), AA20 (Khayelitsha – Somerset West CBD via Vergelegen Medical Clinic), AA21 (Khayelitsha – Sitari Village Mall), R96 (Khayelitsha – Somerset West via Somerset Mall) and R97 (Khayelitsha – Waterstone Mall – Somerset West).

The sentences are suspended for three years on condition that the respondents comply with the court orders during that period. Should they fail to comply they will be required to serve the 90-day prison term.

Western Cape Minister of Mobility Isaac Sileku has welcomed the ruling, saying the judgment sends a strong message that the law must be respected and that the safety of commuters and public transport operators remains a priority.

“Every commuter deserves to travel safely, and every operator should be able to work without fear,” he said.

He added that lasting peace cannot be achieved through court action alone: “It requires everyone to respect the law, support law enforcement and resolve disputes peacefully.”

The department will continue working closely with law-enforcement agencies to enforce the court order, monitor the affected routes and help ensure that commuters have 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 in July, confirmed as part of the taxi-route dispute between the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata) and Codeta

Provincial traffic officers have impounded several minibus taxis operating in violation of their operating licence conditions on the Somerset West-Khayelitsha route. The violence is a continuation of last year’s dispute, which claimed five lives before a nine-month truce ended.

Also read: ‘Taxi violence’ intensifies as another man is fatally gunned down in Lwandle