Major warning for taxis operating in South Africa’s richest province

The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport has warned the province’s taxi industry and its stakeholders against using violence to advance their interests.

The warning came from the department’s MEC, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, who urged industry members to stop intimidation, extortion, threats, violence, and any other unlawful conduct.

According to the department, industry members have been intimidated by individuals attempting to use fear, coercion and unlawful influence to further their personal interests.

“There is no place for criminality in Gauteng’s public transport system. No individual or group has the right to use intimidation, threats or extortion to advance its interests,” said the MEC.

“Those who engage in such conduct must know that they will face the full might of the law.”

She added that in instances of unlawful conduct involving operating licence holders, the department will pursue legal action to ensure that the operating licence is revoked.

Diale-Tlabela urged the provincial taxi industry to resolve disputes and differences through established industry structures and lawful processes.

“Intimidation and coercion cannot be allowed to undermine the stability of the industry or compromise the safety and livelihoods of those who depend on it,” she declared.

The MEC said the department remains committed to working with the province’s taxi industry, law enforcement agencies, and other relevant stakeholders.

This work includes strengthening lawfulness, stability, and accountability within Gauteng’s public transport system.

She also called on all taxi industry stakeholders to choose dialogue and lawful processes over intimidation tactics.

Diale-Tlabela urged them instead to work together to protect the safety, dignity and livelihoods of operators, drivers, workers and commuters.

According to the Roads and Transport MEC, the recently reported instances of intimidation and coercion have been brought to the Provincial Taxi Task Team’s (PKTT’s) attention.

Hundreds more operators on Gauteng’s roads

Despite the rise in instances of violence, intimidation, and coercion in the Gauteng taxi industry, the province has issued more operating licences.

Last week, the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport handed over 100 operating licences to compliant taxi operators in the City of Tshwane.

According to the department, the handover reaffirms the provincial government’s commitment to ensuring public transport operators operate legally and that the backlog of operating licence applications is addressed.

Licences were issued to operators affiliated with various taxi associations and form part of efforts to ensure that compliant taxi operators receive their operating licences and public transport is fully compliant.

“We have started issuing operating licences to taxi and other operators across the province, and we will continue with these weekly handover programmes covering different regions of Gauteng,” said the MEC.

She added that the department is progressing in its efforts to eradicate the operating licence backlog and urged operators whose applications remain outstanding to contact the department directly.

“We are appealing to taxi operators who are not yet legal: kindly visit our offices to either apply or verify your status. We want to assist so you become compliant and operate legally,” the MEC said.

Additionally, the Roads and Transport Department called on operators to take responsibility for their status verification and ensure they are in possession of valid documentation every time they are operating.

Diale-Tlabela reiterated that government and operators share the responsibility to operate legally, adding that the department is committed to processing applications.

In turn, operators are then responsible for ensuring they meet the necessary regulatory requirements.

“As the Department of Roads and Transport in Gauteng, we will continue to work to ensure taxi operators conduct their business legally,” the MEC said.

“We are addressing the backlog, and we are committed to ensuring that compliant operators receive their operating licences.”