Cape Town’s warring taxi associations set to meet in bid to end recent bloodshed
At least 7 taxi operators from both associations have lost their lives in gun violence sparked by a dispute over a taxi route.
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 - Cape Town’s warring taxi associations, the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) and the Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (CODETA), are expected to meet on Friday to try and put an end to the bloodshed recently experienced in the Mother City.
At least 7 taxi operators from both associations have lost their lives in gun violence sparked by a dispute over a taxi route.
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The Cape’s biggest taxi associations are not seeing eye to eye over a route from Mfuleni to Somerset West.
The South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) has confirmed that taxi operators from Mfuleni have permits to transport commuters on this route.
Exactly a week ago, unknown gunmen opened fire at CODETA taxi operators sitting inside a small office at the Mfuleni taxi rank, killing four and injuring two others.
Following this, at least three CATA taxi operators, two in Lwandle near Strand and another in Langa, were shot and killed in separate incidents in the days to follow.
CODETA spokesperson Makhosandile Tumana hopes that the two taxi associations will find each other in Friday’s talks.
“So, we are trying to find a solution regarding what occurred in Mfuleni and try to ensure that a situation like that never happens again."
A memorial service for the four taxi operators killed in Mfuleni will be held at a local school hall on Saturday.