10 Western Cape Routes Close After Nyanga Taxi Owner Shot Dead in His Vehicle

• A taxi owner from Nyanga in the Cape Flats in Cape Town was shot dead on 16 September as part of an alleged hit
• It's believed that the taxi owner, affiliated with a taxi association, was shot dead while inside his vehicle
• The murder came in the wake of a war between two associations, as the government imposed a 30-day shutdown

Tebogo Mokwena, Briefly News’ Deputy Head of the Current Affairs desk, South Africa, covered a range of criminal activities, including cash-in-transit heists, kidnappings, taxi violence, police investigations, police shootouts, and court cases at Daily Sun for over three years.

NYANGA, CAPE TOWN — The Western Cape Government will shut down 10 taxi routes for a month starting 17 September 2025. This was after the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) failed to reach an agreement with the Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (CODETA). This as a taxi owner was gunned down inside his vehicle in Brown's Farm in Nyanga, Cape Town, on 16 September 2025. His death came as two rival taxi associations war for control of routes that hang in the balance.

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eNCA reported that the conflict has resulted in multiple deaths in the province. On the same day, a taxi owner was affiliated with CATA, which is at war with CODETA.. He was shot dead while sitting in his vehicle.

The taxi owner's death came as CODETA and CATA are disputing sme routes in Helderberg. The province's Western Mobility MEC, Isaac Sileku, was supposed to meet with CATA and CODETA bosses. However, the meeting was cancelled. CODETA opposed the shutdown. Its spokesperson, Nceba Enge, said the application is not urgent because there has been no violence in the past three weeks. CATA said that it is open for negotiations.

Government shuts down routes

The Western Cape provincial government announced on 12 September that several routes and specified lanes at some ranks in Khatelitsha, Mfuleni, Somerser West, Makhaza, Lwandle, and Nomzamo were shut down. This was after violent clashes between the two associations broke out, placing community members' safety at risk.

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Taxi violence in the Western Cape

Four people were killed at the Mfuleni Taxi Rank in Mfuleni on 6 June 2025. Seven people were shot, and four died. Three, including a commuter, were injured. The police said that large-calibre firearms were used in the shooting.

Two taxi drivers were among three who were shot dead at the Macassar Taxi rank on 25 August. The deaths were linked to ongoing tensions between CATA and CODETA. Two men opened fire at the taxi rank, and the two drivers were fatally wounded.

Western Cape secures interdict to stop violence

In a related article, Briefly News reported that the Western Cape provincial government secured a court interdict on 29 August 2025 to stop the violence. It will be in effect until 9 October 2025.

The interdict prohibits threats, intimidation, and interference with transport services on key routes. The interdict came as CATA and CODETA continue battling for routes.

Source: Briefly News