The Cape Times reported that commuters at the Old Mutual taxi rank in Pinelands ran for cover on Monday 9 November 2026, when rival taxi drivers began throwing stones at each other. Zolani Matolengwe, who passes the rank daily on his way to work, had just got off a train from Cape Town.
At the rank
The two groups stood on opposite sides of the road in front of the Old Mutual building, with the railway station directly across the road. No one there appeared to know what had started the confrontation. Matolengwe and other commuters sheltered in a nearby shop, and the shopkeeper closed the door. About ten minutes later police arrived and both groups stopped. There was no shooting, and he left. The next morning, South African Police Service, law enforcement and traffic officers were at the station, and the taxis were operating normally. The ongoing tension between the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association and the Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association was his concern.
Arrests
Constable Ndakhe Gwala, a Western Cape police spokesperson, confirmed that the crowd dispersed after officers used minimum force and that police remained on high alert, and gave the Cape Argus this account. "Public Order Police were deployed in Pinelands following a brick-throwing incident at a taxi rank. According to reports, members of rival taxi associations were throwing bricks at each other. Eleven suspects were arrested for public violence and intimidation. One of the suspects was also found in possession of a firearm and was charged with contravening a court order."
The department
Muneera Allie, head of communications at the Western Cape Mobility Department, set out the department's position. "The Department is exploring all legal and regulatory mechanisms available to prevent further violence and find lasting solutions."