Taxi peace deal has been made

Affected ranks have been reopened

The agreement signed between the parties will be made an order of court

THE Bellville and Bloekombos taxi ranks have been reopened after taxi associations embroiled in a dispute over operating routes reached a peace agreement yesterday.

The ranks were shut down for almost a week following violent clashes between Bellville Taxi Association (Bellta) and Bloekombos-Wallacedene Taxi Association (Bloewata).

The two associations were affiliated with the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata). Two innocent bystanders were wounded in a shooting at the Bellville taxi rank last week.

The suspension by the office of the provincial taxi registrar still stands and will only be reviewed by the registrar after a month. This means Bellta and Bloewata will not be able to lodge applications for the granting and amendment of operating licences.

“The suspension is an administrative suspension and not an operational suspension, which means that associations may still operate according to their operating licences,” said Department of Transport and Public Works (DTPW) head of communications Jandré Bakker.

“Since the closure of the ranks, DTPW, in partnership with the City of Cape Town, has facilitated several discussions with the affected associations including Cata and the Congress of Democratic Taxi Associations.

“The industry has also met without government parties being present. This resulted in agreement being reached between the parties.”

Bakker said the agreement was presented to the government yesterday, with the request to reopen the ranks.

Given the willingness by both parties to restore peace and stability, DTPW decided to reopen both taxi ranks.

Police spokesperson Andrè Traut said although calm had been restored, the situation was still being monitored.

Bellta and Bloewata have also agreed to enter into an arbitration process to find further solutions to operational challenges. The memorandum of agreement signed between the parties will be made an order of Court.

“A working committee will be established between the two associations to oversee operations on shared routes and to report violations of the agreement to the office of the provincial taxi registrar.

“The associations have also agreed not to impose decisions on one another. No legal operators will be prevented from providing the services so authorised by their operating licences.

“DTPW will, nevertheless, follow due process to declare the affected areas as high-risk in respect of taxi violence. This will allow the Western Cape Minister of Transport and Public Works to invoke his powers in terms of Section 91 of the National Land Transport Act (Act 5 of 2009) should there be any further incidents of violence,” said Bakker.

Cata could not be reached for comment yesterday.