Cape Town’s taxi violence crisis has triggered a heightened policing response, with Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis condemning a series of shootings reported at transport ranks and other locations since Tuesday.
The City of Cape Town says its Metro Police officers have responded alongside the South African Police Service (SAPS) to several incidents across Delft, Khayelitsha, Mfuleni and Gugulethu.
Hill-Lewis has offered SAPS the City’s full policing support, including surveillance technology, safety camera footage and officers on the ground, as authorities work to contain the violence.
The mayor said disputes within the taxi industry could not justify the loss of life, warning that the shootings placed innocent people at risk. He also called on taxi industry leaders to help restore calm and prevent further violence.
The City says officers are maintaining a heightened presence near several public transport interchanges to protect commuters and monitor developments.
But the response is not limited to visible policing. Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security Alderman JP Smith has appealed to residents who may have information about the perpetrators to come forward.
Smith said the public had a role to play in helping authorities identify those responsible and prevent further attacks. He urged anyone with information to use the City’s anonymous tip-off service.
Residents can share information at any time by calling 0800 110 077.
The latest incidents again raise concerns about the safety of commuters and communities caught in disputes within the taxi industry. Transport ranks are essential links in Cape Town’s daily movement, and violence around them can place passengers, drivers, traders and nearby residents in danger.
The City says it will continue supporting SAPS through its enforcement presence and surveillance resources. Whether that cooperation can prevent further shootings will depend on the ability of authorities to identify those responsible and bring them before the courts.