Taxi operations in Nyanga have been suspended following safety concerns.

The Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) says the shutdown was made following a series of shootings and violent incidents. CATA stressed that the aim of the shutdown is to protect both drivers and passengers.

Tensions linked to the CATA come after several taxi’s in Nyanga were set alight in what authorities believe was an arson attack. The incident is believed to be linked to ongoing disputes within the taxi industry over control of lucrative commuter routes in the Cape Flats. Taxi violence in the area has periodically involved clashes between rival associations such as CATA and the Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (CODETA), with shootings, killings and the torching of vehicles reported over the years.

Nyanga remains one of the key transport hubs serving thousands of commuters travelling between townships and Cape Town’s city centre, making it a frequent flashpoint when tensions in the taxi industry escalate.

Taxi operators plan on marching to the Nyanga Police Station to demand progress in unresolved cases, improved security at the taxi rank, and the installation of surveillance cameras. The shutdown also comes despite a court-backed agreement that was reached after the 2023 taxi strike involving the taxi association SANTACO, requiring advance notice for protest action.