CATA's march to Nyanga police station calls for urgent action on taxi violence
Taxi operators affiliated with CATA march to the Nyanga police station to hand over a memorandum demanding action on violence affecting the taxi industry.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane / Independent Media
Taxi operators affiliated with the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) marched to the Nyanga police station on Monday morning, demanding action against violence affecting members of the industry and commuters.
The protest followed growing safety concerns among operators, including a recent fire that destroyed nine taxis at the Nyanga taxi rank and a series of violent incidents in the sector.
CATA spokesperson Nkululeko Sityebi said the march was intended to draw attention to attacks on taxi operators and the lack of arrests in cases reported to police.
“This morning, we marched to the Nyanga police station to let them know enough is enough,” Sityebi said.
“The burning of our vehicles and killings of our marshals, drivers and passengers need to stop. There are tremendous safety concerns and while crimes and attacks are reported to the Nyanga SAPS, no arrests seem to be made.”
The association handed over a memorandum to police outlining its concerns and calling for stronger intervention to address crime affecting the industry.
According to Sityebi, taxi operations in Nyanga had been suspended earlier in the day due to safety concerns before operators gathered for the march. Commuters in the area struggled to get to work during the morning peak as services were temporarily disrupted.
City of Cape Town Traffic Services spokesperson Kevin Jacobs confirmed that the march was peaceful and that officers monitored the gathering.
“The Traffic Service can confirm that members of CATA staged a peaceful march to the police station in Nyanga this morning,” Jacobs said.
“Services were on scene, but no incidents were reported during the gathering, which has since dispersed.”
Mayco Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas, said the City became aware of the stay-away action late on Sunday afternoon.
“The City is aware of the strike by CATA operators and we closely monitored the situation. The City was made aware of the stay-away action late on Sunday afternoon, March 8, 2026. A high volume of minibus taxi routes to the Cape Town central business district, Bellville, and Wynberg were impacted by the stay-away action. We regret the impact on commuters,” Quintas said.
Sityebi praised CATA members for maintaining discipline during the protest, saying the association was trying to improve the public perception of the taxi industry.
“We asked for a peaceful march and I must give credit to our members for the way they behaved,” he said.
Taxi services resumed after the memorandum was handed over.
“After we handed over our memorandum to the Nyanga SAPS, it was business as usual and we went straight back to work,” Sityebi said.
However, he warned that the association expects a response from police within seven days and will escalate their protest to provincial and national level..
SAPS spokesperson Colonel Andre Traut confirmed that the memorandum had been received and said the matter was under review and that police would engage with the parties regarding the issues raised.
Last week the Western Cape High Court granted an interdict aimed at preventing transport-related intimidation and illegal operations affecting residents in Atlantis, Saxonwold and Witsand. The order applies to several taxi associations and individuals and prohibits interference with public or private transport services while requiring operators to comply with their operating licences.