THE hotly contested taxi route between Bellville and Mbekweni will remain closed for another two months as the provincial government seeks to quell deadly disputes.
The route, known as B97, was closed by the MEC for Transport and Public Works Dylan Mitchell in July in an effort to quell the violence between feuding operators belonging to the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) and the Congress of Democratic Taxi Association (Codeta).
In an unrelated incident on Wednesday, three drivers were shot and killed and a fourth injured at the Joe Slovo taxi rank near Du Noon in what is believed to be conflicts linked to taxi wars.
“The arbitration process between the parties is not yet complete and illegal operations on the B97 route continue. In consultation with SAPS and other law enforcement agencies, the City of Cape Town and the Drakenstein Municipality, I have decided to extend the closure of the B97 route, two taxi ranks in Mbekweni and an informal rank in Bellville for a further two months from 25 September 2021,” he said in a statement.
“My department has put a significant amount of time, money and effort over an extended period into trying to resolve the conflict with the participation of (affected stakeholders) but an agreement could not be reached on the route outside of the arbitration process.”
Mitchell said to date around 229 vehicles operating on the roads between Mbekweni and Paarl, but off the B97 route, have been impounded - which means the situation is yet to be stabilized.
“The extension of the closure of the B97 route and associated ranks for a further two months will give the search for a lasting peace a viable chance. I expect that extending the closure of these routes and ranks will help maintain the relative stability that was restored to the public transport environment in affected areas and to support the process of finding a lasting peace.”