Four taxi drivers were shot dead in Hout Bay on Monday, prompting authorities to intensify visible policing in the area.
The violence comes after a 39-year-old taxi driver was murdered last Thursday, as associations vie for lucrative routes between Hout Bay and Cape Town.
According to Transport MEC, Donald Grant, the violence is believed to be related to ongoing disputes between two associations affiliated with the two Cape mother bodies, Cata (Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association) and Codeta (Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association).
“The associations are Cata: Hout Bay - Wynberg and (Codeta-aligned) Central Unity Taxi Association,” Grant says.
Police spokesperson, Lieutenant-Colonel Andrè Traut, said two people were also injured in Monday’s shooting.
DISPUTE: Two Cape taxi bodies are at loggerheads for lucrative routes between Hout Bay and Cape Town.Photo: David RitchieAfrican News Agency/ANA
“Several operations are currently underway in an effort to quell the violence. Arrests are yet to be made,” says Traut.
“Meanwhile, a team of specialist detectives has been established to look into these murders, including the one which occurred last Thursday also in Hout Bay.”
City of Cape Town Traffic services spokesperson, Maxine Bezuidenhout, said Hout Bay Main Road was closed between Payne and HR Mandela streets.
Residents woke up to gunshots and found the bodies of three taxi drivers at the scene near Imizamo Yethu informal settlement. The third driver later died in hospital.
Ward councillor, Roberto Miguel, says a meeting has been arranged for today with Grant and stakeholders to discuss the way forward.
“After Thursday’s shooting, we arranged that a meeting be held in the CBD between the MEC for Transport, taxi operators and the provincial stakeholders in licensing.”
Members of the community have been reluctant to speak out as they fear for their safety.
Grant condemned the violence and yesterday Law Enforcement convened an urgent meeting of the Transport Priority Committee, comprising the Department of Transport and Public Works officials, as well as Provincial Traffic, City Law Enforcement agencies, the NPA and SAPS.
TENSION: Authorities vow to quell the violence. Photo: DAVID RITCHIE/AFRICAN NEWS AGENCY/ANA
“Illegal operations in this area date back a few years, resulting in sporadic clashes between the two associations,” said Grant.
“The flaring tensions and past violence, driven by disputes over routes and illegal operations, prompted the Provincial Transport Registrar to issue notices of suspension to the affected associations last week, for violation of the Code of Conduct for minibus taxi associations and operators.
“The suspensions prohibit them from carrying out operations, including long-distance operations.
“Suspended associations are then afforded a hearing, as per law, before a decision is taken by the Registrar to deregister an association on the grounds of their inappropriate conduct.”