Major taxi routes in Mthatha and surrounding areas, where taxi violence has claimed at least 60 lives since 2016, have been immediately closed by the police ahead of the Easter weekend.
This was announced by Police Minister, Bheki Cele, on Tuesday as part of an emergency intervention plan aimed at resolving ongoing taxi violence that has also left up to 70 people wounded.
Cele said that the drastic measure comes after several previous interventions failed.
"The selfishness of the taxi industry must be cut to zero, we cannot continue to count dead bodies like a taxi load. 60 people is a big number, the killings must be eradicated or else taxi operators will lose their business. The routes belong to the citizens of this country and not to be manipulated by taxi bosses for selfish financial gains," he said.
Cele said although this was not the first time that a decision to close down the taxi routes was taken, this time it would be different.
"What is different this time is that unless there is absolute compliance with the peace accord, the routes will be closed indefinitely, so that the hand of government is felt in this area, even if they take us to court, we will defend the authority of the state", Cele added.
Cele together with the provincial leadership of the Eastern Cape and SAPS Provincial Commissioner, Lt General Liziwe Ntshinga, had a lengthy meeting with the top executives of two rival taxi operators of Uncedo Services Taxi Association and Border Alliance Taxi Association.
He said the discussions were exhausted without any of the parties taking responsibility for the ongoing violence except for taxi operators acknowledging the pain that is being caused by the violence.
Minister Cele said a team of specialised forces has also been deployed to maintain law and order and to further increase police visibility in affected areas.
He said this resulted in the arrest of 48 people who were positively linked to other serious and violent crimes in other provinces.
Cele said he would further engage with the two taxi associations "once they have sobered up" to find a long-lasting solution to end the taxi wars in the province.
The R61 from Mthatha to Port St Johns and the N2 junction to Maclear and Tsolo have been closed.
