Heavy police presence in Atlantis as tensions flare between rival taxi bodies

Law enforcement officials were monitoring the situation in Atlantis, Western Cape, as tensions escalated between two rival taxi associations. This followed the Congress for Democratic Taxi Association (Codeta) launching a branch in the area, where the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata) had had a monopoly.

Cata members expressed their displeasure after the launch at the weekend, leading to reported clashes between the two groups. Police intervened to prevent violence from breaking out. The Witsand Taxi Association, a member of Cata, currently holds operating licences for the Bellville, Saxonworld and Witsand routes in Atlantis.

The licences, granted by the Provincial Regulatory Entity, are based on a supply-and-demand assessment and aligned with the Integrated Public Transport Network Plan, specifying the routes that are authorised.

Last week, the MMC for safety and security, JP Smith, said his department had received information about a pending taxi conflict in the Atlantis area.

“In Blaauwberg, other unregistered operators are seeking to operate unlawfully in the Atlantis area, a practice commonly referred to as ‘pirate taxis’,” he said.

“Witsand Taxi Association belongs to Cata, while Blaauwberg rivals have recently joined Codeta and established holdings within the Atlantis area. Such operations are unlawful, as no operating licence can be granted for operating along a designated MyCiTi bus route.”

Read more: Cape Town considers stricter by-laws aimed at regulating ‘unhappy’ taxi industry

Codeta, one of the two major taxi associations in the Western Cape, has a long history of violent conflict with Cata, which broke away from Codeta in the mid-1990s. The two associations were involved in a deadly dispute in 2021 over the B97 route, resulting in more than 80 deaths between January and August of that year.

From the beginning of this year to mid-February, eight drivers, three taxi owners and a commuter were killed in a resurgence of violence, this time targeting members of the Cata.

Read more: Cape Town taxi violence resurgence leaves 12 dead, many critically injured in early 2024

‘Building in our yard’

Cata spokesperson Nkululeko Sityebi criticised Codeta’s actions in Atlantis, accusing it of operating without permits and infringing on Cata’s territory.

“How would you feel if someone came to your yard and built a house without speaking to you?” said Sityebi. “We will never welcome what they did.

“They just took people who are not even associated with anyone and launched a branch. They knew what they were doing because they did not even send an invitation to us.”

Codeta spokesperson Makhosandile Tumana defended the launch, saying  they were approached by local taxi operators in 2019 to launch a branch in Atlantis, but it had been delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The members are not under Cata and we found out that they have seven permits.”

For an association to be recognised, it needs to have at least 10 permit-holders.

“We tried speaking to Cata but they were not available and we will continue trying because we do not want any violence,” said Tumana.

The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco), which includes members from both associations, has been asked to intervene before violence erupts.

Authorities on alert

Western Cape police spokesperson Anelisiwe Manyana said the police were maintaining a heavy presence in the area.

“Deployments will be bolstered with high-density patrols in the area.”

Safety and Security MMC Smith said his department, along with the SAPS, had deployed significant resources to Atlantis in response to threats of violence. Several public transport vehicles had been impounded for operating without permits.

“We have convened a centralised joint operations centre in Atlantis, monitoring the situation through our various technologies, and with 105 members providing enforcement across the area,” said Smith.

The Western Cape Mobility Department has engaged with leaders from Cata and Codeta, and Santaco has committed to convening a meeting between the parties.

“The Western Cape Mobility Department does not condone any violence, poaching or encroaching of routes. The minibus taxi industry is encouraged to conduct itself in accordance with legislation and regulations guiding the industry,” said the department

Santaco could not be reached for comment by the time of publication. DM