The City of Cape Town has closed several key minibus taxi routes for 30 days in an effort to curb ongoing violence within the industry.
Starting on Wednesday, 17 September 2025, the city impounded six taxis and shut down taxi routes across Khayelitsha, Lwandle, Mfuleni, Nomzamo, and Somerset West.
The closures were implemented under section 91 of the National Land Transport Act, which allows a member of the executive council (MEC) to declare zones where “extraordinary emergency measures” may be implemented in the interests of public safety in situations concerning violence, unrest, or instability within the transport industry.
Western Cape Mobility MEC Isaac Sileku has implemented the following closures:
- M18: Mfuleni – Somerset West
- 43: Lwandle – Khayelitsha via Somerset West
- 611: Khayelitsha – Somerset West
- X19: Nomzamo – Mfuleni
- AA20: Khayelitsha – Somerset West via Vergelegen
- 96: Khayelitsha – Somerset West via Somerset Mall
- AA21: Khayelitsha – Sitari Village Mall (drop-off)
- R97: Khayelitsha – Somerset West (drop-off only)
- YEX63: Mfuleni – Somerset West (drop-off only)
- YEX64: Mfuleni – Somerset West (drop-off only)
“This was not an easy decision, but it is one that had to be taken to protect the lives of commuters and residents. The safety of our communities is our top priority,” said Sileku.
According to Daily Maverick, the city’s actions come after the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata) and the Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (Codeta) failed to resolve violent disputes and ensure safety at the Somerset West taxi rank and Somerset West Mall.
“While extraordinary measures are in place, we will continue to engage with Cata and Codeta to work towards a sustainable resolution and long-term peace in the minibus taxi industry.”
Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, declared that six taxis were impounded on Wednesday morning during the rollout of the temporary route shutdown.
“More than 260 officers, drones and CCTV cameras are in force to stabilise the situation. These security measures will remain in place for five days, after which we will review the situation,” Smith said.
TimesLive reported that there has been a spate of shootings between the associations over these routes, one of which led to a driver being shot dead in Philippi on Tuesday morning.
Sileku stated that the Golden Arrow bus service and Metrorail will provide alternative transport to commuters during the shutdown.
Other minibus taxi routes remain in operation, too.
Taxi association responds
Codeta has approached the Western Cape High Court to have the provincial government’s 30-day route closure set aside, according to News24.
The taxi association argues that the temporary shutdown will have a severe and negative impact on thousands of commuters and the working class across the province.
“The minibus taxi industry is the lifeblood of public transport in the Western Cape, and any disruption to its routes directly undermines the ability of workers to get to their jobs, students to reach their schools, and citizens to access essential services.”
Codeta also claimed that its members have not been involved in violence for several weeks.
The closures are currently in effect and the city has established a visible police presence to ensure compliance.
“At this stage our teams have reported that the Khayelitsha, Somerset West and Mfuleni taxi ranks are not operating as per the closure, and we [will] continue to monitor these and other various locations,” said JP Smith.
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