Western Cape MEC says taxi violence arrests raise hope of justice
Mobility MEC Isaac Sileku said police acted quickly to arrest about six suspects in recent taxi violence, and four have appeared in court. He said the province is exploring legal steps to hold two taxi associations accountable.
Sileku said the Department of Mobility was gathering information to approach the courts. The aim is to make the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) and the Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (CODETA) accountable to the department. He said this could also help decide whether the two can be registered and kept to their established areas.
Sileku said the conflict between CATA and CODETA affects other taxi associations across the province. He said six of about eight taxi regions in the Western Cape are affected. The department hopes to hold hearings that could lead to suspensions.
Sileku said arrests alone are not enough, and the suspects must be convicted. He said law enforcement visibility in affected areas will stay indefinitely. The areas named include Retreat, Epping, Mutual Station, Pinelands and Hermanus.
Sileku said: "We are fighting for the commuters of the Western Cape because they need to go to work without having to lose their lives".
Key facts
- Who
- Isaac Sileku (Western Cape Mobility MEC); Africa Melane (CapeTalk journalist who interviewed Sileku); Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (taxi association involved in ongoing conflict); Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (taxi association involved in ongoing conflict)
- What
- Sileku said police acted quickly to apprehend about six suspects in recent taxi violence, four of whom appeared in court, and that the provincial government is exploring legal steps to make the taxi associations CATA and CODETA accountable to the Department of Mobility. Law enforcement visibility in affected areas will remain indefinitely.
- When
- 27 October 2026
- Where
- Retreat, Epping, Mutual Station
- Status
- Reported