The City of Cape Town has expressed its concern regarding the resumption of the MyCiTi N2 Express service between Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha and the Cape Town CBD after a signatory to the agreement was killed on Monday, 17 January.
According to reports, Cecil Dibela’s body was found next to the road near Monwabisi beach with gunshot wounds to his head. Dibela was serving as the general secretary of the Congress of Democratic Taxi Association (Codeta).
The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for transport, Rob Quintas indicated that due to this tragic event, the COCT is now left with huge uncertainty about the signing of this operating contract and the future of the N2 Express service.
“The alleged hit on Mr Dibela is also devastating for the resumption of the MyCiTi N2 Express service. The operating contract with the N2 Company was to be signed this week,” Quintas said.
The N2 Express service, which provided affordable, regular, and scheduled public transport between Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha and the Civic Centre station was suspended at end of May 2019.
Also read: City of Cape Town ready to get N2 Express service up and running
Quintas further mentioned that all parties should remain calm, and work together for the benefit of commuters and those employed by the industry.
“I want to condemn this brutality in the strongest possible terms as this alleged hit may lead to renewed conflict between the minibus-taxi associations that operate across Cape Town. We are extremely concerned about the danger and disruption this may pose to commuters, operators, and all of those involved in the industry.
“I will be calling for a meeting between Codeta, the Mayor and the Western Cape Minister of Transport and Public Works to see how we can assist,” Quintas added.
The latest taxi-related killing could spark another taxi war after more than 80 people were killed during taxi violence in 2020. Meanwhile, Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi confirmed that the motive for the killing is indeed taxi-related and the Harare police have been assigned to continue with the investigation, News 24 reported.
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