6 months without taxi ranks proposed for South Africa’s richest province

Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela has proposed shutting down taxi ranks in the province for six months in a bid to force taxi owners to prioritise public safety.

This comes after the notoriously violent industry claimed its 59th life, since the start of 2025, last week.

“We are worried because they are not only killing themselves but they are also killing innocent citizens,” said Diale-Tlabela, as quoted by SABC News.

“Women and children are really affected by this, that’s why we are taking a stance on that in the six months of closing these ranks, we must be able to overhaul the system and change the regime of how things were done.”

Taxi industry reponds

The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) indicated that it will support the proposal for a six-month rank closure so long as MEC Diale-Tlabela brings a “lasting solution” to the ongoing taxi violence once the ranks open up once again.

Appearing on 702 radio station, chairperson of Santaco Gauteng division Midday Mali said such a closure will negatively impact the communities, the taxi operators, and employees who heavily rely on these ranks to get by.

He therefore called on the Gauteng Department of Transport to initiate a thorough investigation into how routes have been allocated between the different taxi associations following the closing of the ranks.

Certain taxis are only allowed on certain routes, with much of the recent conflict allegedly stemming from operators who were doing business outside their allocated roads.

“Secondly, a thorough investigation [into] what the law enforcement authorities are doing about the conflict,” said Mali.

“The intention of government in Gauteng, it shouldn’t just be to say ‘let’s look into the issue of closing the ranks.’ After closing the ranks, in the period of six months, what is going to happen? What are the processes that will be unfolding?”

He highlighted that a portion of drivers and operators are neither involved in the violence nor benefit from it, yet they will still be affected by the potential rank closures.

Mali also pointed the finger back at government.

“There are decisions that were taken by the government but those decisions are not implemented,” said Mali.

“Secondly, there are court orders that were issued by the courts in terms of the road-related issues; those court orders were not implemented, so it means the arms of government are not working hand in glove.”

Mali maintained that no solutions to the conflict have been put forth by the provincial government despite promises that it would provide such, so the authorities can’t claim innocence in the matter.

Mali said Santaco and sister taxi associations liase with one another when industry issues arise to find an amicable solution, and that they only get government involved should they think it necessary.

“When there are issues, it starts internally to us to say ‘look, here’s a challenge, here’s a conflict;’ we sit around the table [to find a solution],” said Mali.

“If we feel it affects the government directly, we escalate the matter to government, and we don’t just escalate the matter to government, we also sit with the government to come up with solutions.”

He said that should MEC Diale-Tlabela decide to close taxi ranks across Gauteng for six months, Santaco will instruct its members to comply with government’s instructions and keep the peace.

“Immediately when the ranks are going to be closed, we’ll be engaged by the MEC, and we are going to engage our associations affected in that particular area to make sure that the people comply,” said Mali.

“Any processes going to be started by government once the ranks are closed, let’s comply, let’s submit what is needed to be submitted.”