Cape Argus reports that the urgent interdict application by the Congress Organisation of the Democratic Taxi Association (Codeta) against the Western Cape Government's decision to close 10 taxi routes for a period of 30 days, was to have been heard in the Western Cape High Court on Friday.
However, it was postponed to this Tuesday after the court requested further submissions from the parties. The province’s action was in response to deadly conflict over the routes, particularly the Khayelitsha–Somerset West line, which resulted in six fatalities. Mobility MEC Isaac Sileku announced in September that after failed attempts to mediate peace between Codeta and the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata), the closures would come into effect. But Codeta has accused the provincial government of acting prematurely. Since the closure, no further violent incidents have been reported, and commuters have turned to Golden Arrow buses.
The dispute between the rival associations dates back years, but escalated in June when five people were killed at Codeta’s offices at the Mfuleni taxi rank. Codeta chairperson Nceba Enge expressed his insistence that the MEC's justification for the closures on grounds of violence was incorrect. Sileku reiterated that “the extraordinary measures implemented on September 17, shall remain in place until advised otherwise by the courts of law, or a peaceful and sustainable agreement is reached by the affected parties. Our door is always open to them to return to talks. The sooner they resolve this mess, the better for everyone.”
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mandilakhe Tshwete at Cape Argus
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