Cape Town – Nine taxis have been torched at the Nyanga taxi rank in Cape Town.
The incident is alleged to have happened just after 1 a.m. on Friday. Preliminary reports indicate that five Toyota Quantums and four Iveco Sprinters were destroyed in the blaze.
Cape Town’s Nyanga taxi rank was engulfed in chaos this week after nine taxis were set alight in what police believe is the latest flare-up in ongoing turf wars between rival associations. The incident left commuters stranded, terrified, and questioning whether they can rely on the taxi industry for safe transport.
Witnesses described masked men storming the rank late at night, dousing vehicles with petrol before setting them ablaze. Flames lit up the sky, and residents reported hearing gunshots as operators fled. One commuter said: “We don’t know if we’ll make it home alive anymore.”
The taxi industry has long been plagued by violent disputes over lucrative routes. Nyanga, one of the busiest hubs in Cape Town, has been a hotspot for such clashes. In 2023, similar violence left several dead and dozens of vehicles destroyed. Despite repeated promises from authorities, little has changed.
Police have opened an investigation, but commuters and operators alike say they have lost faith in law enforcement. Taxi associations are blaming each other, while government officials call for calm. Civil society groups argue that the state must intervene decisively, perhaps by formalising and regulating the industry more strictly.
The violence has broader implications. Thousands of workers depend on taxis daily, and disruptions affect productivity, schooling, and family life. Economists warn that instability in the taxi sector undermines the broader economy. For now, Nyanga residents remain fearful, with many choosing to walk long distances rather than risk boarding a taxi.
