Cape Town – A team of specialist detectives from the provincial Serious Violent Crimes Unit have been tasked to investigate shootings in the taxi industry in Mbekweni, Paarl.
Since the start of the year, taxi violence in the area has claimed the lives of at least seven owners and drivers.
The fight is understood to be between two small associations affiliated to the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata) and the Congress of Democratic Taxi Associations (Codeta) about the Bellville to Paarl route.
The violence has also affected community services, with the nearby Phola Park clinic being closed and schools reporting high absenteeism rates.
This visit followed the murders of two taxi operators who were shot dead in their vehicles on Tuesday by unknown assailants. On February 17, a 41-year-old taxi boss, Nkosiyabo Mhobo, was also killed.
Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula and Transport MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela visited the families of the victims yesterday and engaged with the taxi associations and other stakeholders in a bid to resolve the conflict.
“The issue of taxi violence is a national issue, which is why I am calling a taxi indaba. I will be consulting with taxi associations, big and small, across the province.
“This matter here started some time in September last year, but there was no shooting. Then it subsided, but in January four people were killed, and it recently escalated with three more people killed and two attempted murders. This has terrorised the community,” said Mbalula.
He said the fight was not just about route invasion, but about licensing, and that there would be further government engagement with the community.
Madikizela said visiting the families of those killed had been emotional, and he appealed for calm in the area.
Cata spokesperson Andile Seyamo said the meeting was fruitful and the organisation was looking forward to future engagement.
Provincial police spokesperson Novela Potelwa said: “All the murder and attempted-murder cases in connection with the taxi violence in Mbekweni are being looked at by a specialist team.
“The incidents remain a concern and police management views them in a serious light, which is why there will be an engagement with all role-players within the taxi industry with a view to resolving the impasse and thereby ensuring that both commuters and operators are kept safe.”