Police Oversight and Community Safety
What measures are currently in place to ensure adequate police visibility and law-enforcement presence at taxi ranks across the province;
(2) whether there are any specific Provincial Government-funded projects, including but not limited to the Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP), that are currently being deployed at or around taxi ranks; if so, (a) what is the list of taxi ranks where such deployments are taking place, (b) the number of LEAP or other officers allocated to these locations and (c) the measurable outcomes or impact assessments (if any) related to these interventions;
(3) what future plans, if any, does her Department have to enhance safety and security at taxi ranks through increased visibility or dedicated operations?
(1) The South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Western Cape, in collaboration with the City of Cape Town’s Metro Police. Traffic Services, and Law Enforcement, maintains a coordinated and ongoing presence at high-risk taxi ranks and along key transport routes identified as hotspots.
Personnel from all key components are mandated to conduct daily visits to these identified taxi ranks. These visits are formally recorded on their respective daily task sheets and are systematically captured on the SAPS Operational Planning and Monitoring System (OPAM) under the supervision of shift commanders.
Furthermore, a comprehensive monthly contingency plan has been established and remains on standby for activation during periods of heightened tension or active violence within the minibus taxi industry. The implementation of the plan is overseen by the SAPS Provincial Operational Command Centre (POCC), which is responsible for deploying the necessary resources in response to emerging threats.
This coordinated and proactive approach underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring commuter safety, upholding the rule of law, and maintaining public order in areas affected by taxi related conflict.
THE MINISTER OF POLICE OVERSIGHT AND COMMUNITY SAFETY TO REPLY:
(2) The LEAP officers are deployed in police precincts where six (6) taxi ranks are
located.
(2) (a) The list of taxi ranks are:
(i) Nyanga taxi rank
(ii) Site C taxi rank
(iii) Gugulethu taxi rank
(iv) Mitchell’s Plain town centre taxi rank
(v) Delft taxi rank
(vi) Stock road transport interchange.
(b) There is no static LEAP taxi rank deployment, but LEAP officers patrol around the taxi ranks during their daily patrols.
(c) The police precincts where these taxi ranks are located recorded a decrease in murder this year as compared to the same period in 2024.
(3) The LEAP members will continue to patrol around these taxi ranks on a need basis, thus far there is no LEAP deployment specifically allocated at taxi ranks.
