WC govt urge CATA & CODETA to resolve taxi conflict in Cape Town

CAPE TOWN - The Western Cape government has called on CATA and CODETA to urgently resolve the mini-bus taxi conflict in Cape Town.

Peace talks between the rival taxi associations reached a deadlock last week, sparking shootings which left five people dead.

Disagreements over a route from Khayelitsha and Mfuleni to Somerset West are believed to be behind the violence.

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Western Cape MEC for Mobility Isaac Sileku has urged CATA and CODETA to return to the negotiating table.

Sileku said the safety of the public was non-negotiable and the Western Cape government would not tolerate any further disruptions.

"Progress starts with dialogue. If we choose talks over tension, we can build the safe, reliable taxi industry our communities deserve."

The Western Cape mobility department was granted a court interdict last week prohibiting CATA and CODETA from interfering with transport services at various key routes.

Sileku said if the stalemate continued, he would be forced to impose harsher sanctions.