The B97 minibus taxi route between Bellville and Mbekweni (Paarl) has been closed for two months from tomorrow, Monday 26 July 2021.
Two taxi ranks in Mbekweni, certain local route loading lanes at the Bellville Public Transport Interchange (PTI), the long-distance facility at the Bellville PTI, the “Paint City” rank in Bellville, and an informal rank in Bellville have also been closed to minibus taxis for two months (details below).
Extra Golden Arrow bus trips have been scheduled between Bellvillle and Paarl for the period of the closure (details below). Commuters will also be able to use existing Metrorail train services between Bellville and Paarl.
The MEC of Transport Daylin Mitchell took this step in a bid to stop violence between rival taxi associations that has seen 24 people being killed and another 29 injured, and to deal with significant disruptions to public transport in the Metro South-East region.
Concerted multi-stakeholder attempts to resolve the conflict have been unsuccessful. The local Paarl Alliance Taxi Association (PATA), which is affiliated to CODETA (Congress of Democratic Taxi Associations), and CATA (Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association) Boland both claim rights to run the B97 route.
The Department of Transport and Public Works has put a significant amount of time, money and personnel into trying to resolve the conflict with the participation of CATA CODETA, SANTACO Western Cape, the City of Cape Town and the South African Police Service, but these have not succeeded. The arbitration of this dispute is currently set down for 26 to 29 July.
The current violence on the B97 route between operators affiliated to CATA and CODETA poses very serious threats to the safety of passengers, residents and other persons entering areas affected by the conflict.
The closure of these routes and ranks is expected to bring stability to the public transport environment in affected areas and to support the process of achieving a lasting peace.
- Closed ranks in Bellville and Mbekweni
| Rank | Location |
| Bellville Public Transport Interchange | 37 Chad Malan Street, Bellville |
| Mbekweni rank | Mohajane Street, Mbekweni, Paarl |
| Mbekweni rank | Shoprite Midway Centre, Mbekweni, Paarl |
| Unofficial rank | Situated in Bellrail Road, Bellville |
| Rank near “Paint City” | Situated opposite Bellville Public Transport Interchange, Bellville |
- Closed loading lanes at Bellville PTI
| Number | Minibus-taxi route |
| 1 | Tyger Valley |
| 2 | Durbanville |
| 3 | Welgemoed |
| 4 | Gugulethu |
| 5 | Mowbray |
| 6 | Nyanga |
| 7 | Kraaifontein |
| 8 | Kraaifontein |
| 9 | Kuils River |
| 11 | Lower Crossroads |
| 12 | Langa |
| 13 | Samora Machel |
| 14 | Stellenbosch |
| 15 | Mitchells Plain |
| 25 | Khayelitsha |
| 26 | Khayelitsha |
| 27 | Khayelitsha |
| 28 | Happy Valley |
| 29 | Mfuleni |
| 30 | Wesbank |
- Closed long-distance routes at Bellville PTI
| Atlantis |
| Dunoon |
| Strand |
| Paarl |
| Hermanus |
| Malmesbury |
| Worcester |
| Ceres |
- Extra Golden Arrow bus services between Bellville and Paarl
During the week (peak period)
| AM Peak Period (Paarl – Bellville) | PM Peak Period (Bellville – Paarl) | ||||
| Time | Extra buses | Every | Time | Extra buses | Every |
| 5:00-6:00 | 3 | 20 min | 16:00-17:00 | 3 | 20 min |
| 6:00-7:00 | 3 | 20 min | 17:00-18:00 | 3 | 20 min |
| 7:00-8:00 | 3 | 20 min | 18:00-19:00 | 3 | 20 min |
During the week (inter-peak periods)
| Route | Departure | Extra buses | Every |
| Bellville – Paarl | On the hour, starting 08:00 until 15:00 | 1 | 60 min |
| Paarl – Bellville | On the hour, starting 08:00 until 15:00 | 1 | 60 min |
Saturday
| Period | Route | Departure | Extra buses | Every |
| AM Peak | Bellville – Paarl | Every 30 mins, starting at 06:00 until 09:00 | 4 | 30 min |
| Off-Peak | Bellville – Paarl | On the hour, starting at 09:00 until 18:00 | 1 | 60 min |
| Paarl – Bellville | On the hour, starting 09:00 until 18:00 | 1 | 60 min |
Sunday
| Period | Route | Departure | Extra buses |
| Off-Peak | Bellville – Paarl | Every two hours, starting 08:00 until 18:00 | 1 |
| Paarl – Bellville | Every two hours, starting 09:00 until 18:00 |
Golden Arrow departure points near Bellville PTI
Passengers wishing to use a Golden Arrow bus to travel from the Bellville PTI to Paarl will use the Voortrekker Rd or Durban Rd bus stops. These stops are approximately 800 m away from the Bellville PTI – a 10-minute walk.
