MEC to reopen taxi route B97 after peace deal

AFTER violence plagued the B97 minibus taxi route from Mbekweni (Paarl) to Bellville, forcing the hand of the Western Cape MEC of mobility, Daylin Mitchell, to close the route last year, an agreement has been reached with the taxi associations which will see the route reopened.

On Monday, leaders of the Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (Codeta) and Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata) signed an agreement on sharing the B97 route, following discussions with local government.

“In July 2021, I invoked my powers in terms of section 91 of the National Land Transport Act (Act no 5 of 2009) to close the route following several incidents of violent conflict and the loss of lives,” Mitchell said.

“The current closure period comes to an end on September 25, 2022. In consultation with the affected municipalities, we invested a considerable amount of time, funding and resources into mediation efforts prior to closing the route,” he said.

Taxi operations along this route were also the subject of an arbitration process. The arbitration award was released in November 2021, and Mitchell said his department made a concerted effort to give effect to the arbitration outcome.

The arbitrator ruled that both Cata Boland Taxi Association and the Paarl Alliance Taxi Association (affiliated to the Codeta region) had legal rights to trade on route B97. Since the award was issued, several discussions were held with the provincial executive committee of the Western Cape branch of the SA National Taxi Council, Cata and Codeta regional taxi councils, and the two affected primary taxi associations.

Mitchell commended the industry leadership for their commitment to this peace process. “I’m pleased that this agreement has been reached by the primary associations and Cata and Codeta regions in respect of minibustaxi operations on route B97. Both parties have agreed… to co-exist and to provide bi-directional services.

“In terms of the agreement, operating licences will be apportioned on an equal basis (50/50) between the two associations commensurate to the demand for services as shown in the transportation plans for the area.”

The route will remain closed until the regulatory process is finalised.