SANTACO in WC hopes talks with operators will upend gun violence in taxi industry
The Minibus Taxi Task Team held a special meeting on Thursday, after the killing of at least eight taxi operators from different taxi associations.
Police at the scene of a mass shooting at the Mfuleni taxi rank in Cape Town on 6 June 2025. Picture: Ntuthuzelo Nene/EWN
CAPE TOWN - Taxi umbrella body South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) in the Western Cape says it hopes that talks currently being held to resolve the gun violence in the taxi industry in Cape Town will bear fruit.
The Minibus Taxi Task Team held a special meeting on Thursday, after the killing of at least eight taxi operators from the taxi associations, Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (CODETA) and Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) in the past few days.
The Cape's biggest taxi associations are fighting over a taxi route from Mfuleni to Somerset West.
Four taxi operators from CODETA were shot and killed at the Mfuleni taxi rank last Friday.
After this, three taxi operators from CATA were shot and killed in separate attacks in Lwandle near Strand and Langa.
SANTACO and CODETA spokesperson Makhosandile Tumana explains who is legally permitted to transport commuters from Mfuleni to Somerset and back...
"According to the report that we have, the Mfuleni association does have a legal right to go to Somerset and return back with commuters. Unfortunately, they were not taking this opportunity for a long time."
Tumana says CODETA members in Mfuleni wrote several letters to the City of Cape Town informing the municipality of its intention to resume operations on this route...
"I think the city delayed that process, and operators took the decision to start this exercise. That's where the problem started."
CATA and CODETA are expected to meet on Friday to map a way forward.