The urgent court application brought by the taxi association, CODETA, to interdict taxi route closures in parts of Cape Town has been dismissed. This means the existing taxi route closures, implemented last month, will remain in place.
CODETA challenged the route closures of some routes and ranks between Khayelitsha, Mfuleni and Somerset West, claiming that they were suffering losses as a result.
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The Western Cape High Court dismissed their appeal, which Mobility MEC Isaac Sileku has welcomed.
Sileku added that there is less than a week left for the relevant stakeholders to find a resolution.
“This judgment reaffirms that our actions are guided by the law and prioritise the protection of lives. With [six] days remaining, we call on all parties to return to the negotiating table and work towards a lasting, peaceful solution,”said Sileku.
The measures remain in place on the routes below:
- 611 Khayelitsha – Somerset West
- 43 Lwandle – Khayelitsha
- M18 Mfuleni – Somerset West
- X19 Nomzamo – Mfuleni
- AA20 Khayelitsha – Somerset West CBD via Vergelegen Medical Clinic
- AA21 Khayelitsha – Sitari Village Mall
- R96 Khayelitsha – Somerset West via Somerset Mall
- R97 Khayelitsha – Waterstone Mall – Somerset West
- YEX63 Mfuleni – Somerset West
- YEX64 Mfuleni – Strand via Somerset West
While CODETA spokesperson, Makhosandile Tumana, said the court’s ruling is unfortunate, he said the taxi association intends to abide by the court’s decision.
He added that there will, however, continue to be commuters struggling with using the bus for their travels.
“The buses are dropping them far away [from] where they are supposed to [be] and they have to walk long distances. That it’s something that we cannot deny,” said Tumana.
Tumana added that after the interdict to close the routes expires, it will go under review before a decision on what happens next is taken. He said the association will contemplate what steps they will take thereafter.
“The information that we have with this decision, is that after the court interdict was implemented, it’s going to be reviewed on the 28th of this month… We have to look on the 28th what is going to happen. Then we can take the actions after.”
