The pressure is mounting, as stakeholders in the taxi industry work together to find lasting solutions to the conflict in Cape Town.

The national president of the taxi representative body, SANTACO, has come to the city to engage the provincial leadership and the leadership of the CATA and CODETA taxi associations.

SANTACO said Mr Abnar Tsebe noted that the recent reported incidents have been deeply concerning, and he believes every effort must be made to “restore calm, protect lives and safeguard the interests of commuters, operators and the public”.

In recent weeks, deadly violence in the industry has been reported in areas including Delft, Khayelitsha, Mfuleni, Gugulethu, Browns Farm and most recently, four people killed and two others, including a child, were wounded in a shooting at the Bellville taxi rank on Saturday.

READ MORE: Gunmen kill four, injure two, including a child, in Bellville taxi rank shooting – Smile 90.4FM

The violence is said to stem from conflict between CATA and CODETA over operating routes.

SANTACO’s Rebecca Phala said the national structure held a meeting on Monday, ahead the provincial and local government authorities’ sit down with the associations on Tuesday.

“SANTACO maintains that disagreements within the industry must be resolved through constructive engagement, established organisational processes and lawful mechanisms, rather than violence and intimidation. The protection of human life must remain paramount. No route, operating interest or organisational disagreement should ever cost a person their life or compromise the safety of innocent commuters and communities,” said Phala.

The leadership of the two associations met with the City of Cape Town, the Western Cape Mobility Department and other stakeholders last week, for the first stage of talks to find a resolution. They had agreed to keep the peace, while discussions are ongoing, and part of that agreement was to identify the most urgent issues that need to be addressed. Those issues are expected to be discussed during this week’s engagement.

SANTACO National said it also wants to get a clearer understanding of the underlying tensions between the associations.

“The National Office is approaching these engagements in a spirit of dialogue, responsibility and unity, with the hope of facilitating meaningful progress towards restoring stability in the Western Cape taxi industry,” said Phala.