TAXI violence over routes not only affect the day to day running of the business, but commuters also get affected.
Now, Gauteng MEC for Transport and Logistics Kedibone Diale-Tlabela intends to implement special measures to deal with this taxi violence, especially between Soweto taxi associations Witwatersrand African Taxi Association (Wata) and the Nancefield Dube West Taxi Association (Nanduwe).
Among those solutions includes the closure of routes and taxi ranks that are being disputed between the two associations following incidents of violence.
Tensions between Wata and Nanduwe arose earlier in April 2024 when the two associations did not agree on operations on routes along Dube to Jeppe Taxi Rank, Makhetha garage (Phefeni) taxi to Jeppe Taxi Rank as well as Uncle Tom's Hall Taxi Rank to Jeppe station.
This led to violence and left commuters left stranded.
On 8 April, Wata even suspended its services. Taxi commuter Sibongile Ngema said at the time of the suspension, she was heavily inconvenienced as she had to find an alternative transport to get to work.
As part of the broad consultation with communities, the MEC expressed her intention to invoke section 91 of the National Land Transport Act.
“Our approach to resolving this crisis has always been people centric. We believe that commuters and the community affected by the conflict between the associations are the first priority in whatever we do as the government. My visit to Soweto was to explain in detail our interventions aimed at ensuring that we safeguard the lives of commuters and taxi operators,” Diale-Tlabela said.
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As part of resolving the dispute, the MEC said the provincial government is planning to amend the contested routes and its operating licences to avoid duplication of these routes.
This intervention, according to Diale-Tlabela, is the first of its kind since these routes were formulated.
"By amending these routes, we are dealing with the core issue in the long-standing dispute. We're also collaborating with other government entities to deal with outstanding operating licence renewals. We will soon announce an end-to-end process that will assist in regularising operators that have taken legitimate steps to renew their documents," Diale-Tlabela said.
The MEC also said the provincial government has increased police visibility on the disputed routes as part of preventing further violence, while a resolution is being negotiated with Wata and Nanduwe through their mother body, the Gauteng National Taxi Alliance.
“I'd like to send a word of appreciation to the Gauteng taxi industry leadership for their stewardship and support as we deal with this complex challenge. We will continue to extend our hand to both Wata and Nanduwe as we take a special interest in the taxi industry,” she said.
Diale-Tlabela emphasised the key role that the taxi industry continues to play in powering the economy of Gauteng as the largest people mover.
The provincial government continues to support initiatives to modernise and corporatise the industry. These include the establishment of the taxi fund, which coordinates several empowerment opportunities for the industry.
