The Western Cape Mobility Department has advised that taxi services are limited or suspended at several taxi ranks across Cape Town, following reports of an unofficial taxi go-slow.
According to the department, there are reportedly no taxis operating in Nyanga and Wynberg, with reduced services reported in Mfuleni, Langa and Cape Town Station Deck.
These disruptions come amid ongoing taxi-related violence in the metro. In the latest incident, three suspects were arrested in Mfuleni on Thursday night after the body of a 34-year-old taxi driver was found in the driver’s seat of the vehicle with gunshot wounds. A female who was wounded in the attack was admitted to hospital.
READ MORE: Another taxi driver killed as violence grips the industry
Western Cape Minister of Mobility Isaac Sileku says the department has received no formal communication from the taxi industry about the suspension or reduction of services, and added that early morning monitoring by authorities confirmed disruptions at several taxi ranks.
“These disruptions come amid intensified government efforts to end taxi-related violence and protect commuters. The Department is currently considering legal options to address the ongoing conflict.”
Sileku has indicated that bus and train services are available as alternative transport options to assist affected commuters. The department’s Mobility Information Taxi has reportedly also been deployed to assist commuters at taxi ranks, manage long queues and provide information on available transport alternatives.
The minister has reiterated that commuters must not bear the consequences of disputes within the taxi industry. The Department says it continues to monitor affected areas and calls on taxi leadership to act responsibly and work towards restoring normal operations.
“The safety of commuters remains government’s priority,” concluded Sileku
Western Cape provincial police commissioner, Sizakhele Dyantyi, has warned the minibus-taxi industry that attempts to blockade major routes or disrupt traffic would not be tolerated. Dyantyi has renewed calls on all relevant stakeholders to urgently resolve the conflict before further measures become necessary.
