SANTACO Western Cape taking steps to restore peace and stability in taxi industry

SANTACO Western Cape said that was taking concrete steps to restore peace and stability in the taxi industry.

Monday will see the launch of the Taxi Peace Ambassador Programme at the Bellville Taxi Rank.

Sixteen peace ambassadors will be appointed across the eight taxi regions of the province.

SANTACO said that they will act as community-based champions of non-violence, tasked with mediating tensions early, promoting accountability, and serving as trusted points of contact for commuters and operators.

SANTACO Western Cape said that the recent spate of violence in the taxi industry has claimed lives, disrupted communities, and shaken public confidence in the safety of public transport.

Less than a week is left of the forced closure of a number of taxi routes and lanes at ranks between Mfuleni, Khayelitsha and Somerset West.

The shutdown was put in place for a period of 30 days to curb recent taxi-related violence.

At least 10 operators and commuters have been shot and killed or wounded in attacks linked to a dispute between CATA and CODETA.

The impasse between the Cape's two biggest taxi associations is yet to be resolved.

CODETA approached the courts hoping the Western Cape government would reverse its decision to shut down the routes and rank lanes.

However, the Western Cape High Court on Thursday dismissed CODETA's challenge.