The Referendum Party has welcomed an urgent interdict granted by the Western Cape High Court, which bars intimidation by taxi associations and compels them to comply with the law. The move follows a surge of taxi-related violence that has left several commuters dead and wounded in Philippi, Khayelitsha, Macassar, and Somerset West.
Party leader Phil Craig urged authorities to enforce the court order decisively, warning that any hesitation would embolden lawlessness. He further called for the suspension or revocation of licences for associations that fail to comply.
Western Cape MEC for Mobility, Isaac Sileku, said the interdict enforces compliance and is aimed at curbing the violence.
He added that both the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) and the Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (CODETA) have three days to submit a plan detailing how they will implement the court’s requirements.
“Violence and lawlessness cannot be allowed to endanger the lives of commuters, operators, and our residents. This court order gives us the legal authority to act decisively to protect our communities and restore stability in the affected areas. Every commuter has the right to travel without fear, and we will work closely with law enforcement agencies to ensure full compliance with the order,” Sileku said.
Meanwhile, CODETA spokesperson Makhosandile Tumana said the association will respect the outcome of the court proceedings but argued that government must take responsibility.
“I think the government is unnecessary and should be blamed for the shootings, but instead it ran to court. We are trying to figure out what steps to take to hold the Western Cape Government accountable, as they created these issues,” he added.
