The South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) national leadership has travelled to the Western Cape to engage rival taxi associations amid escalating tensions and deadly violence that have raised concerns about the safety of commuters, operators and communities.
The delegation, led by national president Abnar Tsebe, is meeting the provincial SANTACO leadership, as well as representatives of the Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (CODETA) and the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA), in an effort to find a lasting solution to the conflict.
The intervention comes against the backdrop of concerning incidents of violence and reported loss of lives linked to ongoing tensions within the province’s taxi industry.
In a media statement on Monday, November 9, SANTACO said it viewed the developments with grave concern and believed urgent efforts were needed to restore calm and prevent further loss of life.
The national leadership said the engagements were intended to give all parties an opportunity to outline their grievances, establish a clearer understanding of the issues driving the tensions and explore practical solutions.
The latest intervention highlights the continuing challenges facing the Western Cape taxi industry, where disputes between associations have raised concerns about the safety and stability of public transport operations.
SANTACO said disagreements within the industry should be resolved through dialogue, established organisational processes and lawful mechanisms rather than violence and intimidation.
It stressed that protecting human life should take precedence over disputes involving routes, operating interests or organisational differences.
“The protection of human life must remain paramount. No route, operating interest or organisational disagreement should ever cost a person their life or compromise the safety of innocent commuters and communities,” the organisation said.
The national office said it was approaching the meetings in a spirit of dialogue, responsibility and unity, with the aim of facilitating meaningful progress towards restoring stability in the province.
It also emphasised the need for all parties to work towards a peaceful resolution in the interests of taxi operators, passengers and the broader public.
The taxi industry plays a significant role in South Africa’s public transport system, with millions of commuters relying on minibus taxis to travel to work, school and other destinations.
Violence linked to disputes in the industry has repeatedly raised concerns about the vulnerability of commuters and drivers, particularly when tensions disrupt routes and transport services.
However, SANTACO did not provide details of the specific incidents of violence or the number of people reportedly killed in the latest developments.
The organisation said the media would be updated on the outcomes and key developments once all scheduled engagements had been concluded.
The meetings are expected to provide an opportunity for the national leadership to hear directly from the affected associations and assess possible interventions to prevent further violence.
SANTACO’s intervention comes as pressure mounts on the industry’s leadership to ensure that disputes are handled through established structures rather than confrontations that put innocent lives at risk.
For commuters and communities affected by the tensions, the immediate priority remains the restoration of safety and stability.
