CATA’s march to Nyanga police station calls for urgent action on taxi violence

Taxi operators affiliated with CATA march to the Nyanga police station to hand over a memorandum demanding action on violence affecting the taxi industry. Taxi operators affiliated with the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) marched to the Nyanga police station on Monday morning, demanding action against violence affecting members of the industry and commuters. The protest followed growing safety concerns among operators, including a recent fire that destroyed nine taxis at the Nyanga taxi rank and a series of violent incidents in the sector.

CATA spokesperson Nkululeko Sityebi said the march was intended to draw attention to attacks on taxi operators and the lack of arrests in cases reported to police. “This morning, we marched to the Nyanga police station to let them know enough is enough,” Sityebi said. “The burning of our vehicles and killings of our marshals, drivers and passengers need to stop.

There are tremendous safety concerns and while crimes and attacks are reported to the Nyanga SAPS, no arrests seem to be made.” The association handed over a memorandum to police outlining its concerns and calling for stronger intervention to address crime affecting the industry. According to Sityebi, taxi operations in Nyanga had been suspended earlier in the day due to safety concerns before operators gathered for the march. Commuters in the area struggled to get to work during the morning peak as services were temporarily disrupted.

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City of Cape Town Traffic Services spokesperson Kevin Jacobs confirmed that the march was peaceful and that officers monitored the gathering. “The Traffic Service can confirm that members of CATA staged a peaceful march to the police station in Nyanga this morning,” Jacobs said. “Services were on scene, but no incidents were reported during the gathering, which has since dispersed.”

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