Cape Town Taxi Commuters Offered New Plans After 10 Routes Close Amid Violent Disruption
- The Western Cape Mobility MEC, Isaac Sileku, announced the closure of ten routes amid the escalating taxi violence
- Alternative plans are being made for taxi commuters affected by the MEC's decision to close the ten roads
- Some of the lanes at taxi ranks will also be closed for 30 days from Wednesday, 17 September 2025
Arrangements are being made for Cape Town taxi commuters who will be affected by the closure of several routes in the Western Cape. This comes after the Western Cape Mobility MEC, Isaac Sileku, announced on Friday, 12 September 2025, that ten routes in Cape Town will be closed due to the taxi-related violence.
Source: Getty Images
What did Sileku say?
Some of the affected areas include Khayelitsha, Makhaza, Mfuleni, Somerset West, Nomzamo and Lwandle. More lanes at the taxi rank will also be closed for 30 days from Wednesday, 17 September 2025. The taxi violence resulted in several people being killed. A CATA official at the Nyanga was killed in the latest shooting earlier this week.
Sileku stated that the SAPS, City of Cape Town law enforcement and provincial traffic will work closely together to make sure that the alternative plans are fully implemented. He said that alternative arrangements have been made to ensure mobility.
Bus services provide assistance
He said that the Golden Arrow Bus Services and Metrorail will provide additional assistance to the affected residents. The MEC said that this decision is necessary to ensure safety and work on a long-term solution.
He said that the bus services will help get individuals to work and learners to schools. Sileku stated that this is important since the final examinations are approaching. The MEC said that it is essential for people to resolve issues peacefully without resorting to violence
"We are saying to the industry, we have not abandoned the talks, we have reached out, we have met with the industry and affected parties more than 15 times, about 16 times," Sileku said.
Source: Getty Images
Taxi-related violence incidents reported by Briefly News
- A shooting at the Macassar Taxi Rank in Cape Town has left two drivers dead and one passenger injured. The shooting is believed to be linked to ongoing tensions between two rival taxi associations in Cape Town.
- A member of the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) was shot dead in Lwandle, near Strand. CATA is currently embroiled in a feud with the Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (CODETA).
- The Western Cape Education Department is concerned about the recent spate of shootings in the province. Taxi-related shootings have left at least six people dead and many others injured in the space of two days.
- The Western Cape government has approached the courts in a bid to end taxi violence in the province. Tensions between two rival taxi associations have led to five people being killed in three shootings over two days.
- The South African Police Service is investigating a mass shooting that claimed four lives in the Cape Flats in the Western Cape. The incident happened at the Mfuleni Taxi Rank, and the circumstances that led to the shooting remain unclear.
Source: Briefly News
