The price of war: Cape Town’s taxi industry seeks peace amid deadly rivalry

Deadly taxi-related violence in Cape Town has left communities shaken, as a fierce rivalry between minibus taxi associations erupted over the last few months.

Several taxi operators from rival taxi associations CATA and CODETA were killed.

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In one of the recent attacks at the Nyanga taxi rank, gunmen opened fire on a minibus carrying taxi owners, mostly women.

Two women were shot dead, while seven other women and a man were wounded, deepening fears over escalating taxi violence in the city.

For many Cape Town residents, taxis are more than a convenience, they are essential lifelines, but when those lifelines become battlegrounds, communities pay a heavy price.

Families mourn loved ones lost, workers scramble for transport, and trust between commuters, drivers and authorities erodes.

But industry stakeholders, including the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO), have taken steps to restore peace and stability in the taxi industry.

Sixteen peace ambassadors have been appointed across the province’s eight taxi regions to mediate conflicts, promote non-violence and act as trusted contacts for commuters and operators.

SANTACO regional chairman Mandla Hermanus recently stated that only the feuding associations can put an end to the violence.

"Courts will not solve it, not even the department on its own will be able to solve it until there's commitment from both organisations to actually solve these issues."

Government and affected communities have condemned the violence, calling on all involved to prioritise commuter safety.