Over the past few months (July 2012 - September 20 12) a number of operators have been murdered in the greater Bellville area due to taxi-related conflict. The Department of Transport and Public Works have received numerous reports from various sources indicating growing tension and associated violent confrontations between minibus-taxi operators affiliated to the Bellville Taxi Association (BELTA), Durbanville Taxi Assocaition and Bloekombos Wallacedene Taxi Association. This has brought to an end a 30-month period of relative peace and stability in the taxi industry. These route associations form part of the CATA (Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association) region. Numerous attempts were made by the Department to resolve internal disputes within and between these associations. Mediators contracted by the Department have been dispatched to the affected areas to gather information and to meet with affected operators in the area. These attempts have been relatively fruitless and the situation on the ground remains highly volatile.