Taxi violence escalates as negotiations over route stall

TAXI violence over the Khayelit-sha-Somerset West Route continues to spiral despite marathon talks and a court interdict, with rival associations Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata) and Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (Codeta) still deadlocked over control of the contested routes.

- MANDILAKHE TSHWETE

The Western Cape Mobility Department confirmed that the associations were given until today to propose a resolution, but hours of meetings yielded no breakthrough.

Cata spokesperson Nkululeko Sityebi rejected a proposal that would see Codeta operate the Khayelitsha-Somerset West route exclusively.

“We are not agreeing on Cata being pushed out of the Khayelitsha-~Somerset West,” he said.

“The proposal that Codeta should drive to and from Somerset West and our members who have been operating there must now be excluded will not work for us. We don't mind sharing the route as we have said before.”

Codeta chairperson Nceba Enge said his organisation was still consulting.

She talks occurred against a grim backdrop.