SUMMARY

Lagunya was the first taxi association to be granted a permit in order to run taxi services in and between townships in the larger Cape Town area in the 1950s. Most black Africans were settled in four different townships in this area, Guguletu, Langa, Nyanga and Khayelitsha, and transport between these different townships was a big issue. While Lagunya was operating between these townships, it had limited services and was not very lucrative. For a long time, Lagunya was the only taxi association in the area. Lagunya was based in the Khayelitsha township, which was a pro-ANC (African National Congress) area. Therefore, Lagunya was often seen as affiliated with the ANC.

It remains unclear how the leadership structure of Lagunya functioned. Yet, in general, all taxi association umbrella organisations are organised very hierarchically. From the bottom to the top, the organisations include ramp workers, taxi drivers, taxi owners, local or long distance associations of taxi owners, hit-squads and umbrella organisations executives. The overarching umbrella organisations are however difficult to define, all organisational structures differ and are based on historical alliances. Most of the violence between the taxi associations can be traced back to the executive officers of the umbrella organisations. Apart from frequently using violence against other umbrella organisations, they also at times target their own members in order to instill compliance.

Laguyna has been involved in the non-state category of UCDP organised violence.