Cape town: Western Cape MEC for Mobility, Isaac Sileku, has condemned the shooting that took place on the R300 in Cape Town on Monday that claimed the life of a minibus taxi official. Reports indicate that the victim was a high-ranking member of the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) and served as the chairperson of the association’s operating routes. He was ambushed while travelling towards Somerset West with his security guards.

According to South African Government News Agency, Sileku expressed his condolences, stating, ‘My deepest condolences go to the family, friends, and colleagues of the man who tragically lost his life in the shooting. This act of violence is deeply concerning and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.’ The MEC has urged the public and industry stakeholders to avoid speculation regarding the motive behind the incident.

‘We are not in a position to confirm whether the shooting is connected to the dispute between two mini-bus taxi associations affected by the extraordinary measures we were forced to take in temporarily closing 10 routes and lanes for a period of a month.’ However, Sileku said the provincial department will await official confirmation from the South African Police Service (SAPS) before making further comments.

Sileku also mentioned that daily monitoring systems on these routes will remain in place, ensuring stable operations with no reported disruptions since the routes reopened on 18 October 2025. Last month, the provincial government suspended several taxi routes in the Cape Town metropolitan area for 30 days due to ongoing violence within the taxi industry. The closures, which began on 17 September 2025, were implemented under Section 91 of the National Land Transport Act (2009), affecting the areas of Mfuleni, Somerset West, Khayelitsha, Nomzamo, and Lwandle.

‘Our focus remains on promoting peace, stability, and safety within the minibus taxi industry, and we will not tolerate any return to violence,’ Sileku said.