Update on taxi violence and court order affecting Somerset West routes
By: Staff Reporter
The Western Cape Mobility Department is gravely concerned about the ongoing violence linked to disputes between CATA and CODETA taxi associations operating on the Somerset West routes. Despite recent engagements with stakeholders, further incidents have occurred, including a fatal shooting in Lwandle on 4 September 2025.
On 28 August 2025, the Western Cape High Court granted an interim order against the affected taxi associations and their members. The order interdicts them from interfering with transport services, intimidating operators, and disregarding operating licence conditions on specified routes and at key public transport facilities, including the Somerset West Public Transport Interchange, Somerset West Mall, and Routes 611, 43, M18, and X19.
The Court directed the respondents to demonstrate by 9 October 2025 why the interim order should not be made final. In the interim, the order is immediately binding and enforceable.
A hearing was held with the taxi associations on 3 September 2025, which was postponed to 11 September 2025. In the meantime, the department has issued a Notice of Intent to close the affected routes under Section 91 of the National Land Transport Act, should violence persist.
Western Cape Mobility Minister, Isaac Sileku, today (5 September 2025) met directly with the leadership of CODETA and CATA to address tensions over the highly contested Somerset West routes. Several contentious issues were discussed, and the parties agreed on the urgent need to ensure peace and stability.
As a next step, a joint session between the two mother-bodies and the Mobility Department will be convened in the coming days to consolidate this commitment and work towards lasting solutions.
Minister Sileku said, “Violence and lawlessness have no place in our communities or our transport system. The safety of commuters and residents is our first priority, and we will use every legal and regulatory mechanism at our disposal to restore stability. We have made it clear to all parties that disputes must be resolved through lawful processes, not violence. We are acting decisively to ensure safety and to protect our resident’s right to safe, reliable transport.”
Whilst peace talks are underway, the Section 91 process will continue. The department remains committed to prioritising safety of residents in the Western Cape.
The Western Cape Mobility Department’s latest news is dominated by the escalating mini-bus taxi conflict between CATA and CODETA in the Somerset West area, which led to the department securing a court interdict against the associations and issuing a notice to potentially close affected routes due to persistent violence and intimidation, as reported on September 5, 2025. The department has also achieved a clean audit for the 2024/2025 financial year, highlighting effective governance and public fund management.
The Western Cape Mobility Department is gravely concerned about the ongoing violence linked to disputes between CATA and CODETA taxi associations operating on the Somerset West routes. Despite recent engagements with stakeholders, further incidents have occurred, including a fatal shooting in Lwandle on 4 September 2025.
On 28 August 2025, the Western Cape High Court granted an interim order against the affected taxi associations and their members. The order interdicts them from interfering with transport services, intimidating operators, and disregarding operating licence conditions on specified routes and at key public transport facilities, including the Somerset West Public Transport Interchange, Somerset West Mall, and Routes 611, 43, M18, and X19.
The Court directed the respondents to demonstrate by 9 October 2025 why the interim order should not be made final. In the interim, the order is immediately binding and enforceable.
A hearing was held with the taxi associations on 3 September 2025, which was postponed to 11 September 2025. In the meantime, the department has issued a Notice of Intent to close the affected routes under Section 91 of the National Land Transport Act, should violence persist.
Western Cape Mobility Minister, Isaac Sileku, today (5 September 2025) met directly with the leadership of CODETA and CATA to address tensions over the highly contested Somerset West routes. Several contentious issues were discussed, and the parties agreed on the urgent need to ensure peace and stability.
As a next step, a joint session between the two mother-bodies and the Mobility Department will be convened in the coming days to consolidate this commitment and work towards lasting solutions.
Minister Sileku said, “Violence and lawlessness have no place in our communities or our transport system. The safety of commuters and residents is our first priority, and we will use every legal and regulatory mechanism at our disposal to restore stability. We have made it clear to all parties that disputes must be resolved through lawful processes, not violence. We are acting decisively to ensure safety and to protect our resident’s right to safe, reliable transport.”
Whilst peace talks are underway, the Section 91 process will continue. The department remains committed to prioritising safety of residents in the Western Cape.
The Western Cape Mobility Department’s latest news is dominated by the escalating mini-bus taxi conflict between CATA and CODETA in the Somerset West area, which led to the department securing a court interdict against the associations and issuing a notice to potentially close affected routes due to persistent violence and intimidation, as reported on September 5, 2025. The department has also achieved a clean audit for the 2024/2025 financial year, highlighting effective governance and public fund management.
Uhlaziyo ngoBundlobongela baseteksini kunye nesenzo seNkundla eSomerset West
Isebe lezokuhamba
UMnyango wezoThutho kuLwandle iNtshona Koloni ukhathazekile ngolonwabo lwamaTaxi phakathi kwe-CATA ne-CODETA kwiindlela zaseSomerset West. Nangona kuye kwaba neentlanganiso, kuqhubekile ukungqubana okuholele ekutshoneni komntu eLwandle ngo-4 kuSeptemba 2025.
Ngomhla we-28 Agasti 2025, iNkundla ePhakamileyo yaseNtshona Koloni yagqiba umyalelo wexesha elifutshane ukuvimba amaqela amaTaxi ekuphazamiseni iinkonzo zothutho, ekoyiseni abasebenzi, okanye ekungalweni kwemigaqo-mimiselo yelayisensi. Umyalelo usebenza ngokukhawuleza, kwaye amaqela kufuneka achaze ukuba kutheni umyalelo ungafakwanga ngokupheleleyo ngo-9 ku-Okthobha 2025.
UMphathiswa wezoThutho, u-Isaac Sileku, wadibana neenkokheli zamaTaxi ngo-5 kuSeptemba, baxoxisana ngendlela yokubuyisela uxolo nokuzinza. Umnyango uphinde wathumela isaziso sokuba iindlela ezingxamisekileyo zingavalwa ukuba udlame luqhubeka.
UMphathiswa uSileku uthe, “Udidi lobundlobongela alunakwamkelwa. Sizakusebenzisa onke amanyathelo asemthethweni ukukhusela abasebenzi kunye nokubuyisela uxolo kwiindlela zethu.”
Opdatering oor Taxi-Geweld en Hofbevel in Somerset West
Die Wes-Kaapse Mobiliteitsdepartement is ernstig bekommerd oor die voortdurende taxi-geweld tussen CATA en CODETA op die Somerset West-roetes. Ten spyte van gesprekke het die spanning voortgeduur en ’n fatale skietvoorval het op 4 September 2025 in Lwandle plaasgevind.
Op 28 Augustus 2025 het die Hoë Hof van Wes-Kaap ’n tussentydse bevel toegestaan wat die taxi-assosiasies verhoed om vervoerdienste te ontwrig, operateurs te intimideer, of lisensiebepalings te ignoreer. Die bevel is onmiddellik afdwingbaar, en die partye moet teen 9 Oktober 2025 verduidelik waarom dit nie finaal gemaak moet word nie.
Mobiliteitsminister Isaac Sileku het op 5 September met leiers van CATA en CODETA vergader om vrede en stabiliteit op die roetes te bevorder. Die departement het ook ’n kennisgewing uitgereik dat sommige roetes gesluit kan word indien geweld voortduur.
Minister Sileku het gesê: “Geweld en wetsloosheid het geen plek in ons gemeenskappe of vervoerstelsel nie. Ons sal alle regsmiddele gebruik om reisigers te beskerm en geskiloplossing volgens die wet te verseker.”
