Tensions brew as unresolved taxi route dispute in Soweto leaves commuters in fear
Since 2015, the NANDUWE and WATA taxi associations have been at war over six routes stretching across Soweto.
There is a heavy police presence in Mofolo Central at Crossroads taxi rank, where the Witwatersrand African Taxi Association and the Nancefield Dube West Association are contesting ruling routes between Orlando and Mofolo. Picture: Jabulile Mbatha/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - Tensions are brewing as a long-standing unresolved taxi route dispute in Soweto continues to leave commuters in fear.
The dispute between the Nancefield-Dube West Taxi Association (NANDUWE) and Witwatersrand Taxi Association (WATA) dates back more than a decade and has resulted in hundreds of deaths in violent clashes.
On Monday, members of NANDUWE blocked off certain routes within Soweto.
While responding to the protest action, a JMPD vehicle crashed into another vehicle and three pedestrians, killing two.
Since 2015, the NANDUWE and WATA taxi associations have been at war over six routes stretching across Soweto.
Both believe they own claims to these busy and highly profitable transport hubs.
Hundreds of association members, taxi operators and even innocent passengers have been killed as a result of their long-standing feud.
WATA spokesperson, Hamilton Miya, said that despite all the violence and killings, there had never been any arrests.
"In all these things, no one has been arrested. But our police services, if it is a politician, they will sleep in the cell today, I don’t know how our law works."
NANDUWE deputy secretary, Solly Moletsane, admitted that commuters were paying the price of the ongoing dispute.
"I am very sorry to the commuters because they don’t know what is happening here but at the end of the day, they are the ones who are involved in this, without knowing what is happening. Some get injured and some get killed."
The Gauteng Transport Department said they were looking at possible solutions, some quite drastic like shutting down all the ranks under contention and providing bus services for the public.