Extra buses deployed as Western Cape suspends routes to curb taxi violence
The Western Cape Government's intervention brings calm to the mini-bus taxi industry amid route suspensions.
Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers
The Western Cape Government says the first days of extraordinary measures introduced to restore calm in the province’s troubled minibus taxi industry have proceeded without incident.
The 30-day suspension of several routes — enforced under Section 91 of the National Land Transport Act (2009), which allows a provincial government to impose extraordinary measures when violence or instability in public transport endangers lives — came into effect on Wednesday, 17 September 2025, following violent clashes between rival taxi associations.
The closures affect routes in Mfuleni, Khayelitsha, Somerset West, Nomzamo and Lwandle.
Since the intervention began, the provincial government has confirmed that no incidents of violence have been reported.
Western Cape Mobility Minister Isaac Sileku thanked commuters, law enforcement and industry operators for helping to maintain order.
“I want to sincerely thank every commuter for their patience, every law enforcement officer for their vigilance, and every operator and frontline worker for their dedication during this period. Your commitment has been key to ensuring safety and stability on our roads over the past few days,” he said.
To ease pressure on commuters, Golden Arrow Bus Services (GABS) has introduced additional buses along affected routes.
These now cover corridors between Nyanga, Khayelitsha, Mfuleni, Macassar, Lwandle, Philippi East and Somerset West, with departures from 05:10 and return trips until 19:15 on weekdays, along with selected weekend services.
Law enforcement remains visible on the ground, with officers from the South African Police Service (SAPS), City of Cape Town Law Enforcement and Provincial Traffic Services deployed to monitor compliance and safety.
Sileku acknowledged that the intervention was a difficult decision, but said it was necessary.
“This difficult decision was taken only to protect the lives of our commuters and residents, and to bring about stability on those routes. While the measures remain in place, our top priority is to safeguard residents and ensure they can travel with dignity and security,” he said.
“We remain open to dialogue with both CATA and CODETA, and sincerely hope we can soon reach a sustainable resolution for lasting peace in the industry.”