WC SANTACO hopes to get rivals CATA & CODETA back to negotiating table

The South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) in the Western Cape says it's hopes to get rival taxi associations CATA and CODETA back to the negotiating table soon to resolve recent tensions.

The 30-day shutdown of specific taxi routes between Mfuleni, Khayelitsha, and Somerset West is on Thursday, on its 16th day.

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The measures were implemented to prevent taxi-related killings linked to a feud between the associations over these routes.

CODETA has approached the court asking it to reverse the provincial mobility department's decision.

SANTACO provincial chairperson Mandla Hermanus said recent leadership elections and bereavements at CATA and CODETA have delayed peace talks.

Hermanus, however, said they hope both taxi organisations will find the time to resolve their differences soon.

"Because that's the only way that we will be able to resolve this. Courts will not solve it, not even the department on its own will be able to solve it until there is commitment from both organisations."

CODETA and the provincial government will return to the Western Cape High Court on Saturday to argue their cases.