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Taxi violence in Cape Town forces matric candidates to move exam centres

Published

Shootings and gang violence in Delft, Khayelitsha, Nyanga, Mfuleni and Gugulethu disrupted transport as thousands of candidates sat the national senior certificate English exam on Wednesday. Western Cape education authorities activated security structures.

Centres were told to contact candidates who had not arrived and advise them of alternative centres. Education MEC Jaco Londt said candidates facing circumstances beyond their control may arrive up to an hour after the exam starts and still be admitted.

Two adult men were wounded in a shooting at the Palm taxi rank in Delft at about 7am. Delft SAPS opened two attempted murder cases and a case of discharging a firearm. Police spokesperson Thembakazi Mpendukana said no arrest had been made and the investigation continues.

The City of Cape Town temporarily closed the Delft public transport interchange. Urban mobility MMC Rob Quintas said the violence had spread to Mfuleni and Gugulethu. He said the dispute between the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association and the Congress of Democratic Taxi Associations is rooted in longstanding disputes over routes and operating rights.

Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said the City is giving full policing support to the SAPS. He said safety camera footage is available to help investigators.

Key facts

Who
Jaco Londt (Western Cape education MEC); Rob Quintas (City of Cape Town urban mobility MMC); Geordin Hill-Lewis (Cape Town mayor); Thembakazi Mpendukana (SAPS police spokesperson)
What
Taxi violence in Delft, Khayelitsha, Nyanga, Mfuleni and Gugulethu disrupted public transport as thousands of candidates sat the national senior certificate English exam. Western Cape education authorities activated security structures and told centres to contact candidates who had not arrived and advise them of alternative centres; police opened attempted murder cases after a shooting at Palm…
When
28 October 2026
Where
Cape Town, Delft, Khayelitsha
Status
Reported

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