According to Zwelinzima Vavi, general secretary of the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU), there are many interconnected factors causing unrest in the taxi transportation industry.

However, as he explained, many of the current difficulties in the sector stem from the fact that rental vehicle activity in South Africa has been left unregulated since the apartheid regime. Consequently, the competition of economic interests is very intense.

Vavi’s statements followed the escalation of violence in Cape Town in mid-July, in which 24 citizens lost their lives.

If one counts the violent events that have occurred since the beginning of 2021, according to figures provided by the Police, more than 80 people killed in the entire Western Cape province due to disputes between Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association and Congress of Democratic Taxi Association.

In this regard, the Provincial Police Commissioner, Thembisile Patekile, revealed that more than two dozen individuals were arrested and are currently at the disposal of the courts.

Following the riots, Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula provided Cape Town taxi operators and associations with legal operating licenses to resume services.

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