Mbekweni-Bellville taxi route and certain ranks and loading lanes closed for a further two months

Statement by Transport and Public Works Minister Daylin Mitchell

I closed the B97 minibus taxi route between Bellville and Mbekweni for two months from 26 July 2021 after concerted efforts to stop violence between operators affiliated to CATA (Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association) and CODETA (Congress of Democratic Taxi Associations) failed. The arbitration process between the parties is not yet complete and illegal operations on the B97 route continue. In consultation with the South African Police Service (SAPS) and other law enforcement agencies, the City of Cape Town and the Drakenstein Municipality, I have decided to extend the closure of the B97 route, two taxi ranks in Mbekweni and an informal rank in Bellville for a further two months from 25 September 2021.

The local Paarl Alliance Taxi Association (PATA), which is affiliated to CODETA, and CATA Boland both claim rights to run the B97 route. My Department has put a significant amount of time, money and effort over an extended period into trying to resolve the conflict with the participation of CATA, CODETA, SANTACO (South African National Taxi Council) Western Cape, the City of Cape Town, Drakenstein Municipality, and the SAPS, but an agreement could not be reached on the route outside of the arbitration process.

The arbitrator will be wrapping up evidence gathering at the end of September and is due to submit her report and findings at the end of October.  We expect implementation to take place during October, but parties have the option of applying to make the arbitration findings an order of court, which will take time.  A total of 229 vehicles illegally operating on roads between Mbekweni and Paarl but off the B97 route, have been impounded, so the situation is clearly not yet stable. The extension of the closure of the B97 route and associated ranks for a further two months will give the search for a lasting peace a viable chance.

The two taxi ranks in Mbekweni and an informal rank in Bellville will remain closed for a further two months (details below). All loading lanes at the Bellville PTI that serve routes other than the B97 route 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.

In terms of the Transport Contingency Plan that was drawn up at the start of the closure period, additional Golden Arrow bus trips will remain in operation between Bellvillle and Paarl (details below). Commuters will also be able to use existing Metrorail train services between Bellville and Paarl.

I expect that extending the closure of these routes and ranks will help maintain the relative stability that was restored to the public transport environment in affected areas and to support the process of finding a lasting peace.

Closed ranks in Bellville and Mbekweni

The following ranks will remain closed for a further two months from 25 September 2021:

Extra Golden Arrow bus services between Bellville and Paarl

Passengers wishing to use Golden Arrow bus services from Bellville must use the Voortrekker Rd or Durban Rd bus stops. These stops are a ten-minute walk away from the Bellville PTI.

During the week (peak period)

During the week (inter-peak period)

Saturday

Sunday

Media Enquiries

Jandré Bakker
Head of Communication
Department of Transport and Public Works
Email: Jandre.Bakker@westerncape.gov.za