CATA, CODETA urged to return to negotiating table after fatal shooting at Philippi East taxi rank

CAPE TOWN - The Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) has confirmed that a passenger and one of its members were killed when gunmen opened fire on six people at a taxi rank in Luzuko, in Philippi East.
 
Four others were critically injured in Monday's shooting, including a school learner and two taxi drivers.
 
A taxi driver was also killed and three others injured at the Vuyani taxi rank in Town Two, Khayelitsha, on Monday.
 
The motives for these attacks are believed to be taxi-conflict related.  
 
Several taxi drivers from both CATA and the Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (CODETA) were killed in gun violence in June, following a dispute over a taxi route from Mfuleni to Somerset West.
 
CATA spokesperson Nkululeko Sityebi is calling on both associations to return to the negotiation table.
  
"We don't know where the shooting is coming from, but it looks like there were ongoing negotiations between these two regions, CATA and CODETA, in connection with the route from Somerset to Mfuleni, where an agreement was put in place but, unfortunately, the other party decided not to follow the agreement that was reached in July."

Sityebi added that they're also concerned about the safety of commuters.
 
"Peace must prevail amongst us and if there are differences, we believe we need to sit around the table and resolve the issues. We're also concerned about our commuters when things like these happen."