Although cops have arrested 27 suspects for the taxi violence since the beginning of the year, the killings have continued unabated.
Since January, the taxi war involving CATA and CODETA has left 86 people dead and 66 injured, including drivers and passengers.
This month alone, 24 people were killed in the feud over the Bellville to Paarl/Mbekweni route.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa revealed on Thursday that the latest arrest in connection with the killings came on Sunday, when a murder suspect was caught by cops in Nyanga.
“Of the taxi violence-related cases registered since the beginning of the year, 27 arrests were affected,” said Potelwa.
“Five for murder, four for attempted murder, nine for the possession of firearms, and others were for hijacking, intimidation, perjury and pointing of a firearm.”
Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk says Sunday’s arrest was for a murder that occurred on 18 July in Sihlanu Avenue, Nyanga, where the suspect shot and killed a 63-year-old man involved in the taxi business.
“Police investigation expertise led to his arrest over the weekend,” he says.
“He appeared in Athlone Magistrates’ Court yesterday on a charge of murder.”
The spate of shootings has led to Transport MEC Daylin Mitchell closing the B97 route and several taxi ranks in the disputed areas for two months in an effort to quell the violence.
Both CATA and CODETA stopped operating last week due to their taxis being targeted.
Yesterday, CODETA went back on the road and Mitchell said no incidents were reported.
“We have seen a limited service of CODETA affiliated taxis operating in a few areas where they have previously not been in operation over the last week,” Mitchell said.
“This decision must be commended, and we hope to see more taxi services return.”
CATA and CODETA are currently part of an arbitration process to iron out their problems.
They were due to present a “peace treaty”, brokered by Bantu Holomisa and Zwelinzima Vavi, to authorities this week but said they were still busy discussing some points.
Mitchell said other modes of public transport are operating as well as minibus taxis not affiliated to CATA or CODETA.
Meanwhile, the City’s Safety and Security boss JP Smith has applauded Golden Arrow bus drivers for their bravery, after three shooting attacks on bus drivers.
“They are the heroes in this situation, they went out there in the height of the violence and transported commuters,” he says.