Court challenge against Cape Town’s 30-day taxi route shutdown to be heard on Fri

A court challenge against a 30-day taxi route shutdown in some parts of Cape Town will be heard on Friday.

The matter was meant to argued in the Western Cape High Court on an urgent basis on Wednesday, at the start of the route closure.

However, the parties asked the court for more time to file their papers.

Conflict between the Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (CODETA) and the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) over routes from Mfuleni and Khayelitsha - to Somerset West - recently led to deadly violence, with at least 10 operators and commuters killed - and others wounded in shootings.

ALSO READ: Warring CT taxi associations could lose memberships or operating licenses should violence persist

The route closures have been implemented to prevent further violence within the taxi industry in Cape Town.

However, taxi association CODETA has told EWN they are being unfairly punished, because they've been operating in Somerset West for three weeks without violence.

Provincial Mobility MEC Isaac Sileku says they'll oppose any court attempt to overturn the route closures.

"And what is sad is that instead of investing time to finding a solution they are approaching the courts. If I was them, I was going to make sure that we find a lasting solution instead of going to court."

It's unclear when CATA and CODETA will return to the negotiating table.

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