CATA and CODETA lose faith in government task team

Cape Town taxi associations CATA and CODETA say the Minibus Taxi Task Team, formed approximately three years ago, has failed to meet its intended purpose.

The Task Team was established in 2023 following a violent taxi strike. That unrest was sparked by the impoundment of minibus taxis by City of Cape Town law enforcement officials.

The team serves as a joint structure comprising the City of Cape Town, the Western Cape Government, and the provincial branch of SANTACO.

READ: Peace talks between CATA and CODETA gain momentum

The team’s mandate is to resolve conflicts within the taxi industry, improve commuter safety, and address operating license challenges alongside other issues affecting the sector.

A series of engagements between local government officials and taxi industry leaders were held in the aftermath of the week-long taxi strike in Cape Town in August last year.

More recently, the Task Team met to address tensions between CATA and CODETA over route disputes in Somerset West and Mfuleni. However, the two associations now state they no longer have faith in the structure.

CODETA chairperson Nceba Enge expressed his dissatisfaction with the progress made by the joint body.

"So I'll say the Taxi Task Team did not do anything for us, they failed the industry and we don't see it going forward as one of the structures that can be able to resolve things within the industry."

While the associations have distanced themselves from the Task Team, CATA and CODETA maintain they are confident that their new leadership can resolve disputes internally.