The Western Cape High Court granted an interdict against several taxi associations, which was aimed at stopping transport-related intimidation and unlawful operations affecting residents in Atlantis, Saxonwold and Witsand.

• The court granted an interdict against several taxi associations in an effort to curb taxi violence in Atlantis.
• The court action follows a spate of deadly incidents in the area.
• No arrests have been made following the deadly incidents.

The Western Cape government is hoping a court order will help bring an end to the violence and illegal taxi operations that have recently plagued Atlantis and the surrounding areas.

On Friday, the Western Cape High Court granted an interdict against several taxi associations, which was aimed at stopping transport-related intimidation and unlawful operations affecting residents in Atlantis, Saxonwold and Witsand.

The court action comes after a wave of violence linked to taxi route disputes.

Last week, three taxi operators and a 14-year-old schoolgirl were killed in separate incidents.

Among those killed was Eugene “Spoed” Titus, 42, the Atlantis chairperson of the Congress of Democratic Taxi Associations (Codeta).

He was shot dead outside Atlantis Secondary School while loading pupils into a taxi.

The mayor of Cape Town, Geordin Hill-Lewis, made available a reward of R100 000 for information that might lead to the arrest of the people responsible for the violence.

In response to the escalating tensions, the Western Cape Department of Mobility approached the court seeking urgent relief.

The department said the interdict aimed to reduce violence and intimidation at key transport hubs, ensure that only operators with valid licences were allowed to provide services, and to protect other forms of transport - including buses and private vehicles - from interference.

The court order is directed at several taxi associations, including the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association, Saxonwold Local Taxi Association, Codeta Atlantis Taxi Association, and Codeta Khayelitsha Killarney Local Taxi Association, as well as nine people in the taxi industry.

READ | R100 000 reward offered after driver, teen killed in taxi shooting outside Atlantis school

The interdict prohibits the respondents - including their officials, employees and drivers - from interfering with any form of public or private transport. This includes assaulting, intimidating or threatening drivers, operators or staff from other taxi associations or transport services.

Western Cape Mobility MEC Isaac Sileku said the intervention was intended to reinforce the rule of law and improve safety for residents who rely on public transport.

“We recognise that legal interventions can sometimes create uncertainty for residents in the short term. However, this interdict sends a clear message that intimidation and violence will not be tolerated,” Sileku said.

“Our priority is ensuring that residents of Atlantis and surrounding communities can travel to work and school safely.”

The order applies specifically to areas where incidents of intimidation and interference have been reported, including:

The court also ordered that taxi associations ensure their members comply strictly with operating licence conditions. No individual or association may operate minibus taxi services in, to, or from Atlantis without the required permits.

Associations have been further instructed to submit a report to the court by 16 March detailing the steps they have taken to ensure compliance with the order.

Taxi associations contacted for comment said they were still studying the court order and declined to respond further.