WC Mobility Dept actively engaging CATA & CODETA since route dispute started - Sileku

CAPE TOWN - Western Cape MEC for Mobility Isaac Sileku said his department was actively engaging rival mini-bus taxi associations the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) and the Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (CODETA) since the violent dispute started three months ago.

Sileku's response comes after CODETA on Tuesday called on the Western Cape government to intervene and foster another round of peace talks between the two associations.

CATA and CODETA failed to reach a consensus after meeting last week, sparking another wave of violence, which left five people dead.

MEC Sileku said his department had made repeated attempts to bring CATA and CODETA to the negotiating table.

CODETA spokesperson Makhosandile Tumana on Tuesday called on Sileku to help the feuding taxi associations reach an agreement.

"The office of the mobility and the office of the premier must intervene to find a solution in this matter."

The Western Cape Mobility Department was granted a court interdict last week prohibiting CATA and CODETA from interfering with transport services at various key routes.

Sileku said his department was exercising its regulatory powers to enforce a truce because its efforts to foster peace talks had failed.