Western Cape police insist that escalating taxi violence will not derail security preparations for South Africa’s 4 November local government elections, despite mounting casualties and disruption to public transport.
The violence has been linked to a route dispute between rival taxi associations, the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) and the Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (CODETA), over the Delft, Langa and Epping corridor.
According to the supplied report, the shootings have claimed about a dozen lives and left others wounded, raising concerns about the safety of commuters and communities caught in the conflict.
Police and City of Cape Town officials met urgently on Thursday to strengthen their response. Provincial Police Commissioner Sizakhele Dyantyi said sufficient personnel were available to secure the elections without abandoning routine policing operations.
Dyantyi said the emerging threat was being assessed separately to ensure the election security plan remained intact while authorities addressed the violence.
Meanwhile, Western Cape Mobility MEC Isaac Sileku and the City’s Urban Mobility MMC, Rob Quintas, met with representatives from the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) and CODETA to discuss the escalating situation.
CATA did not attend the meeting, citing prior commitments. A further meeting is planned for Monday.
Sileku said the provincial government was preparing an urgent court application to clarify taxi operating rights. Authorities are also planning an inquiry into alleged violations by identified taxi associations.
The provincial government and the City say they are strengthening law enforcement and pursuing legal measures to restore stability.
The central challenge is now twofold: contain the violence before more lives are lost while ensuring commuters can travel safely and election preparations continue without disruption.
Police say the election plan remains on track. But with the route dispute unresolved and another round of discussions still to come, the pressure is on authorities and taxi industry leaders to turn that assurance into safer streets.