Rising taxi fares on the horizon for Cape Town commuters

According to a briefing held after a meeting between the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata) and Congress of Democratic Taxi Associations (Codeta), a taxi fare increase is likely. Taxi fare increases are looming for commuters across Cape Town, with taxi associations confirming a hike is now almost certain. This follows a landmark peace meeting between rival groupsCape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA)andCongress of Democratic Taxi Associations (CODETA).

The meeting, held at the Nyanga terminus on Monday, brought together leadership from both associations in a bid to end years of violent conflict that has claimed lives and disrupted transport for thousands of commuters. Speaking after the meeting, CATA chairperson Nkululeko Sityebi described the gathering as one of the most “significant engagements between the two bodies in recent years”. “There has been a lot of bloodshed, members have died, drivers, leaders, and the impact on commuters has been felt by many of them.

But yesterday everything changed.” he said, adding that the process marked a turning point towards rebuilding trust. Despite the breakthrough on peace, chairpersons from the associations confirmed that rising fuel costs dominated discussions and that commuters should prepare for fare increases. “We will surely increase it,” said CODETA chairperson Nceba Enge.

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“We just don’t know when this will come in effect.” He said recent fuel hikes have severely strained operators, with some drivers unable to meet monthly financial obligations. “The fuel increases have impacted negatively on the members as some of us could not have enough money to pay their bills at the end of last month due to the increase of fuel,” Enge said.

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