Court Interdict Issued Amid Ongoing Taxi Violence in Atlantis

The Western Cape High Court has issued an urgent interdict aimed at curbing ongoing taxi-related violence affecting communities in Atlantis, Saxonwold, and Witsand. The court order targets several taxi associations and individuals accused of intimidation and unlawful transport operations. The legal intervention follows a deadly shooting outside Atlantis Senior Secondary School on 25 February, where local businessman and taxi owner Eugene Titus and a 14-year-old Grade 8 learner were killed. Two other learners were injured in the attack, which sent shockwaves through the local community and intensified tensions within the taxi industry. The violence prompted Isaac Sileku, the Western Cape Mobility MEC, to approach the court for urgent intervention to stabilise the situation. Taxi Associations Named in the Interdict The court order is directed at several taxi organisations, including: •Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) •Saxonwold Local Taxi Association •Congress of Democratic Taxi Associations (CODETA) •Atlantis Taxi Association •CODETA Khayelitsha Killarney Local Taxi Association In addition, nine individuals were named in the court papers as respondents. Areas Affected by the Order The interdict specifically applies to locations where incidents of interference and intimidation have reportedly occurred. These include: ▪︎Potsdam Public Transport Interchange •Atlantis CBD Taxi Rank •Westfleur Circle •Witsand Informal Taxi Rank According to the court order, the taxi associations, their members, officials, employees, and drivers are prohibited from interfering with public or private transport services operating in these areas. They are also barred from assaulting, intimidating, or threatening drivers, operators, staff, or passengers connected to other taxi associations or transport providers. Compliance Requirements The court further instructed the organisations and individuals named in the interdict to comply with the conditions of their operating licences, which require them to provide lawful public transport services. They are prohibited from operating minibus taxi services to and from Atlantis without valid operating licences. Within 24 hours of the order, the respondents were required to take reasonable steps to ensure that their members cease any unlawful activities. They must also submit a written report to the State Attorney by 16 March outlining the measures taken to comply with the court’s directive. Officials Welcome Court Intervention Speaking after the ruling, MEC Isaac Sileku welcomed the decision, stating that it reinforces the rule of law and prioritises the safety of residents who rely on taxi services daily. He acknowledged that while legal interventions can create short-term uncertainty in the transport sector, the order sends a clear message that violence and intimidation will not be tolerated. Sileku added that operators who respect the law and focus on passenger safety will receive support from the provincial government, while those who resort to violence will face full legal consequences. Attempts to obtain comment from CATA and CODETA were unsuccessful at the time of publication. R100,000 Reward for Information In response to the killings, Geordin Hill-Lewis, Mayor of City of Cape Town, announced that the city is offering a R100,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and successful prosecution of those responsible for the taxi-related murders. Authorities are urging anyone with information about the shooting or related violence to come forward as investigations continue.