Media Release by Daylin Mitchell, Western Cape Minister of Transport and Public Works
Today is the first day that the B97 minibus taxi (MBT) route between Mbekweni and Bellville is closed for two months in terms of Section 91 of the National Land Transport Act.
This action became necessary after concerted efforts to stop violence between operators on the B97 route affiliated to Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) and Congress of Democratic Taxi Associations (CODETA) failed.
Arbitration of the dispute resumes today. Certain ranks have also been closed. In addition, certain loading lanes at the Bellville Public Transport Interchange (PTI) used by CATA and CODETA affiliated taxis have also been closed. The loading lanes at the Bellville PTI that serve taxis not affiliated to CATA or CODETA remain open.
The City of Cape Town has issued access tokens to associations and operators who are not affected by the current conflict so that they can continue to enter the Bellville PTI taxi rank and use their allocated loading lanes. Additional Golden Arrow bus services have been made available between Paarl and Bellville.
Closed ranks
These ranks are closed for two months from 26 July 2021:
| Rank | Location |
| Bellville Public Transport Interchange (only those loading lanes that serve CATA- and CODETA-affiliated taxi operators) | 37 Chad Malan Street, Bellville |
| Mbekweni rank | Mohajane Street, Mbekweni, Paarl |
| Mbekweni rank | Shoprite Midway Centre, Mbekweni, Paarl |
| Unofficial rank | Situated in Bellrail Road, Bellville |
| Rank near “Paint City” | Situated opposite Bellville Public Transport Interchange, Bellville |
Closed loading lanes at Bellville PTI
The following taxi loading lanes used by CATA- and CODETA-affiliated taxi associations at Bellville PTI are closed for two months from 26 July 2021:
- Tyger Valley
- Durbanville
- Welgemoed
- Gugulethu
- Mowbray
- Nyanga
- Kraaifontein
- Kraaifontein
- Kuils River
- Lower Crossroads
- Langa
- Samora Machel
- Stellenbosch
- Mitchells Plain
- Khayelitsha
- Khayelitsha
- Khayelitsha
- Happy Valley
- Mfuleni
- Wesbank
- Atlantis
- Dunoon
- Strand
- Paarl
- Hermanus
- Malmesbury
- Worcester
- Ceres
Today I also visited the Goodwood Traffic Management Centre to monitor the situation on the affected routes and other PTI’s. There are currently no disruption on our roads.
Situation report for greater Cape Town area:
The following is a situational report on minibus taxi operations in the greater Cape Town area.
Where an area is not specifically mentioned, no specific issues were raised and operations seem to be running. Where an area is specifically mentioned and it is stated that services are running, it means that the area has been flagged as an area where disruptions are possible.
Please note that this situational report is based on current information, is valid only at the time of publishing, and is subject to change at any time.
- B97 MBT Route (Mbekweni to Bellville)
- No MBT services.
- Additional bus service functioning.
- Local routes in Paarl are running.
- Limited MBT services from Khayelitsha, Nyanga and Langa leading to limited services at the Bellville PTI. MBT services not affiliated to CATA and CODETA are operating.
- Bellville PTI:
- Golden Arrow Bus Services are operating.
- No CATA- or CODETA-affiliated MBT services are running.
- Routes operating include:
- Eerste River.
- Bellville South.
- Belhar.
- Retreat PTI:
- Bus and MBT services are operating.
- Wynberg PTI:
- No CATA- or CODETA-affiliated MBT services are visible.
- Bus services are operating.
- Mitchell’s Plain PTI:
- No CATA- or CODETA-affiliated MBT services are visible.
- Bus services are operating.
- Cape Town Station deck:
- Steady flow of MBT services.
- No CATA MBT services are running.
- CODETA MBT services limited mainly to Sea Point and Milnerton.
- Nyanga Central PTI and bus terminus:
- Bus services running. Passengers embark and disembark at Nyanga South African Police Service (SAPS) station.
- Very limited or no MBT services in operation.
- Gugulethu PTI:
- Very limited or no MBT services in operation.
- Mowbray, Claremont, Fish Hoek, Masiphumelele and Hout Bay:
- Limited MBT services in operation.
- Buses are operating.
- Khayelitsha, Philippi and Langa PTIs:
- Very limited or no MBT services in operation.
- Vrygrond PTI
- CODETA-affiliated MBT services are operating.
- Grassy Park PTI:
- Operations are normal.
- Athlone PTI
- No CODETA-affiliated MBT services are operating.
Other modes of public transport are operating as well as minibus taxis not affiliated to CATA or CODETA.
It is important to note that, while operations at PTIs may be reduced, services along the routes continue to operate.
I reiterate my stance that Government cannot be expected to compromise on the rule of law. We will not allow criminal elements in the minibus industry to hold legal operators and the citizens of the Western Cape hostage. I am aware that our actions have an impact on commuters, but we are confident that the additional support we have provided will help to address public transport challenges that arise until such time as the situation has stabilised.
I am sincerely grateful to the team working behind the scenes to keep the wheels of the public transport system turning. A special thank you must also be extended to municipal law enforcement, Traffic Law Enforcement, the South African National Defence Force and South African Police Service who are patrolling routes and escorting buses.
Media Queries:
Ntomboxolo Makoba-Somdaka
Spokesperson for Minister Daylin Mitchell
Cell: 082 953 0026
Email: Ntomboxolo.Makoba-Somdaka@westerncape.gov.za