Western Cape Premier, Alan Winde, has called on warring taxi associations in the province to resolve their differences peacefully.

Authorities closed the B-97 route between Mbekweni and Bellvile due to safety concerns for all road users. The route will be closed for two months.

Premier Winde says resorting to violence to resolve issues is unacceptable. He was speaking online during a taxi safety media briefing.

“Whether it’s an economic dispute, or whatever kind of dispute, we cannot use criminality and violence, it is absolutely unacceptable and when it does happen we need to make sure that the full force of the law is brought in, we have to make sure that we move away from this way of operating in our everyday lives and in our society.”

Western Cape Minister of Community Safety, Albert Fritz, has urged police to conduct comprehensive investigations into all taxi-related incidents of violence which have been reported in the province this year. He was also speaking during the digital media briefing.

“I really want to specifically call on SAPS to do proper investigations into all those people who were arrested for any form of violence relating to taxis and to please make sure that the investigation is of such a quality that we can get convictions and secure convictions by the National Prosecuting Authority so that people can be put behind bars who are guilty of any offence related to violence during the taxi conflict,” he said.