Western Cape to extend taxi route closures for another 30 days

The Western Cape government has announced its intention to extend the closure of several minibus taxi routes and lanes for another 30 days, a month after imposing the extraordinary measures to curb violent clashes between rival taxi associations, the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) and the Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (CODETA).

The province's Mobility MEC Isaac Sileku says the restrictions, first introduced to prevent killings and intimidation, have brought stability, and lifting them now would risk renewed violence.

"We had to look at, if we take away the measures that we put in place, are we able to say to our commuters that there won't be any one of you losing your lives or there won't be any intimidation, and our associations will be able to co-exist on these routes that we have closed."

Meanwhile, residents have raised concerns that the closures have left some areas, particularly informal settlements, underserved, forcing commuters, including schoolchildren and workers, to walk long distances to access buses.

"Of course, there will be an inconvenience when you are used to a mode of transport that can pick you up in front of your house. The people are more worried about the inconvenience instead of being worried about getting these people to come to the table and urging them to have a sense of urgency in resolving, because it's an inconvenience on anyone and everyone, specifically our communities,"says Sileku.

He argues public safety must come first, adding that the closures could be lifted earlier if both associations demonstrate a genuine commitment to coexist peacefully.

To listen to Sileku in conversation with 702 and CapeTalk’s Africa Melane, use the audio player below: