Recently the B97 Paarl-Bellville route has been a bloodbath due to taxi associations Cata and Codeta’s ongoing warring, which has seen scores die violently, as recently reported in Mbekweni and Paarl East.
Western Cape Minister of Mobility Ricardo Mackenzie recently held urgent meetings with police as well as the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) following recent minibus taxi-related shootings.
“The minibus-taxi industry has over the years been marred by incessant incidents of violence stemming mainly from overtrading, the monopolisation of taxi routes, a proliferation of illegal operators, turf battles and route invasions,” Mackenzie pointed out in a statement. “This has resulted in damage to property and loss of human life.”
The Western Cape Mobility Department was aware of 555 taxi-related cases, including murders and attempted murders committed between 2019 to 2022.
Mackenzie pointed to the mandate of the Mobility Department, which is to regulate public-transport services effectively.
“This includes the registration of taxi associations and their members and ensuring adherence to the Standard Constitution and Code of Conduct. The Provincial Taxi Registrar may also call an inquiry where information has come to his or her attention that an association or member has violated the conditions of the Standard Constitution and Code of Conduct.”
This may result in the suspension or cancellation of the registration certificate. The ongoing taxi violence has resulted in the suspension and de-registration of taxi associations and members as well as the cancellation of several operating licences.
“As the minister responsible for mobility in the province I can invoke my powers in terms of Section 91 of the National Land Transport Act to introduce extra-ordinary measures in areas marred by taxi violence.”
This, he said, has resulted in the closure of routes and ranks and the disruption of travel patterns.
However, the minister notes just how these actions come at a significant cost to the already struggling economy.
“Although the actions can stabilise and contain the situation it has not stopped the violence. Violence breeds further violence, and if there are no consequences it will continue to escalate.”
He admitted that it is clear the government cannot use its limited regulatory powers to deal with such sheer criminality alone.
“The police have a constitutional duty to prevent, combat and investigate crime. They must also maintain public order, uphold and enforce the law and protect and secure citizens of the Republic of South Africa.”
Similarly, the NPA has the power to institute criminal proceedings on behalf of the state and carry out any needed functions to enforce criminal proceedings.
“I asked the police to provide a comprehensive report on how many of the cases are currently under investigation and the progress made in respect of each matter. I also asked the NPA to provide a progress report on cases where criminal proceedings have been instituted.”
Mackenzie says he can no longer tolerate the state of public-transport options on which so many people of the Western Cape rely so they can actively participate in the economy and access social and educational opportunities.
“In our meetings I urged both the police and NPA to prioritise taxi-related cases in terms of time and resources, to stabilise the taxi industry and demonstrate to our citizens that there are consequences for violent and criminal conduct.”
To get this message across only convictions will stop or significantly reduce violent incidents in the taxi industry.
“To this end I am pleased with the outcome of the meetings with [law-enforcement agencies], which led to an agreement to strengthen our relationship through the formation of a Joint Task Team to deal with taxi-related violence and the formation of a special unit to spearhead prosecutor-guided investigations in cases involving taxi-related crimes,” the minister said.
This comes after the second taxi violence-related killing took place opposite the Dal Josaphat Stadium on Saturday 10 June, hardly a week after a prominent taxi boss Siyabulela Mandyoli (52) was gunned down in another incident in Mbekweni on Tuesday the 6th.
