SAPS confirms 9 Taxis Set Alight at Nyanga Taxi Rank in Cape Town, Western Cape

• The Nyanga Taxi Rank in Cape Town, Western Cape was the scene of a blaze which consumed taxis in the early hours of the morning
• The incident resulted in the burning of nine taxis and the cause of the incident is not known, and the South African Police Service confirmed the incident with Briefly News
• No injuries were reported as the City of Cape Town's Fire and Rescue Services responded to the incident, extinguishing the fire within the hour

For seven years, Tebogo Mokwena, Briefly News’ Deputy Head of Current Affairs, South Africa, covered a range of topics, including accidents, fires, outbreaks, nature, weather, and natural disaster-related incidents, at Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News.

NYANGA, WESTERN CAPE — The City of Cape Town's Fire and Rescue Service managed to extinguish a blaze which consumed nine taxis at the Nyanga Taxi Rank in Cape Town, Western Cape in the early hours of 6 March 2026.

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The South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Western Cape confirmed the incident with Briefly News. According to SAPS, the incident took place in the early morning at about 01:30. Whilst Nyanga SAPS members were busy patrolling Terminus road, Nyanga they noticed smoke coming from the taxi rank.

"They immediately went and investigate and found nine taxis alight (five Taxi Sprinters and four Quantums). Fire and Rescue Services were alerted to extinguish the fire. An enquiry was registered for investigation. No injuries were reported. SAPS members are still on the scene. Patrol vehicles were sensitize to patrol all taxi routes and ranks," SAPS spokesperson Captain F.C Van Wyk told Briefly News.

SAPS called on anyone with information about this incident to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111. According to eNCA, the African National Congress (ANC) in the Western Cape condemned the incident and called it an act of criminality.

South Africans stunned by the incident

Commentators on X were taken aback by the incident and others had questions about the motive.

Sunflower asked:

"Why is this Cape Town different from the other Cape Town that we visit, guys?"

Waltz said:

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"So the SANDF is failing to stop the violence in Cape Town."

Boss T joked:

"Kana SANDF will only start working month end."

Tlou Sehlano was horrified.

"That's absolutely horrific. Nine taxis set alight is straight up economic sabotage and intimidation. Nyanga Rank taxi violence usually points to taxi industry turf wars or route disputes. Hope SAPS already has eyes on the main suspects."

Patriotic Citizen said:

"South Africa is a crime scene."

3 Briefly News articles about torched transport

• A total of 16 minibus taxis were burned when a fire at the Nyanga Taxi Rank destroyed three taxis and damaged 13 others on 9 February 2025. No arrests were made at that time.
• More than 20 buses were set alight in Pretoria's Mabopane Depot on 17 June 2025. City of Tshwane firefighters battled the fire at the depot.
• The community in Pimville, Soweto, allegedly burned a taxi following the death of an e-hailing driver on 14 August 2025. The community embarked on a protest against violence between e-hailing services and the taxi industry.

Source: Briefly News