Nyanga Taxi Rank Arson Attack Sparks Security Crackdown

KEY POINTS

• Sixteen taxis were set alight at the Nyanga taxi rank in Cape Town, with three completely destroyed and 13 damaged, prompting SAPS to deploy additional officers to the area.
• The incident follows a January 14 shooting at the rank that left one security guard dead and seven injured, with 18 suspects currently facing court proceedings.
• Lawmakers have criticized SAPS for failing to act on intelligence about rising tensions, while community leaders call for urgent intervention to address ongoing violence between rival taxi associations.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has deployed additional officers to the Nyanga taxi rank in Cape Town after 16 taxis were set ablaze on Sunday evening.

The incident, which is being investigated as a case of arson, has further heightened tensions in an area already plagued by violence between rival taxi associations.

Police and fire services rushed to the scene after flames were seen engulfing several vehicles at the rank. “Official reports also indicate that three minibus taxis were completely destroyed and 13 damaged due to the fire,” said police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa. No arrests have been made, and the motive behind the arson attack remains unclear. The deployed police forces will remain in the area until calm is restored, while the taxi rank remains operational for commuters.

A History of Violence

This latest incident follows a series of violent clashes at the Nyanga taxi rank, which has become a hotspot for conflict between competing taxi associations. On January 14, 2025, Western Cape police confiscated 13 rifles and seven handguns following a shooting incident at the rank.

One taxi security guard was killed, and seven others were injured in the clashes. Nineteen security guards were questioned as part of the investigation, and 18 suspects have since appeared in the Athlone Magistrate’s Court, where their case was postponed to May.

In response to the earlier violence, a specialized police team comprising intelligence operatives, the National Intervention Unit, K-9 units, the drone unit, and the provincial combat team was deployed to monitor movements near the rank. Despite these efforts, the arson attack on Sunday highlights the ongoing instability in the area.

The recent violence has drawn sharp criticism from lawmakers and community leaders. On January 15, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Ian Cameron, condemned reports suggesting that police authorities were aware of increased tensions at the rank but failed to act. “If the reports are true, the South African Police Service (SAPS) senior management should have put adequate measures in place to prevent the shooting,” Cameron said. “Intelligence-based information is only helpful if it is acted upon to prevent the commission of criminal acts. It is necessary for the SAPS to introspect on how they can improve the functionality and effectiveness of its operations. The committee will ensure that SAPS managers are held accountable.”

Cameron acknowledged, however, that the SAPS acted swiftly to prevent further loss of life during the January 14 incident. Despite this, the recurring violence has raised questions about the effectiveness of current policing strategies in the area.