Western Cape Transport Minister, Daylin Mitchell confirmed on Friday, August 6, that the Bellville Public Transport Interchange loading lanes have been re-opened except for the Paarl loading lane. This comes after the B97 taxi route between Mbekweni and Bellville was closed last month following a deadly killing spree between the rival taxi associations Cata and Codeta.
According to Mitchell, an agreement was reached on Monday, August 2, which resulted in the taxi operations resuming as there have been no reports of any taxi-related incidents.
“A week of relative calm and peaceful operations at the interchange and on routes, it was agreed that all Cata and Codeta -affiliated associations would return to service and that operators will conduct their services with due regard to the rule of law and the safety of the public,” Mitchell said.
He says, the situation will however be monitored for a number of days, and the Department of Transport and Public Works, as well as affected municipalities, are satisfied that minibus-taxi services are operating normally and in adherence with the agreement.
“I have a duty to ensure the provision of a public transport service that is safe and fully responsive to the needs of the citizens of the Western Cape and government has an obligation to ensure that the rule of law prevails at all times,” Mitchell added.
Meanwhile, the Western Cape Government also indicated that the province’s average conviction rate for taxi-related crimes stands at 5.3%. This was revealed during submission to the legislature’s Standing Committee for Transport & Public Works, that out of 168 arrests made in connection to taxi violence only 9 cases resulted in convictions since 2018.
Picture: Cape{town } etc gallery