Pretoria, Gauteng — Gauteng taxi operators and the provincial government are navigating a growing dispute over operating licence delays, with Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, firmly rejecting claims of a broken relationship while outlining decisive steps to eradicate syndicates and streamline public transport services.
Addressing the mounting concerns, MEC Diale-Tlabela dismissed assertions from taxi leadership that communication channels have collapsed. She emphasized that structured, quarterly meetings remain in place, with the last formal engagement occurring on May 11. The current friction, she explained, stems from the taxi industry’s claim that she breached protocol by engaging directly with local operators and associations without going through established leadership structures first.
The MEC firmly defended her approach, stating that her mandate is to serve the people of Gauteng and individual taxi operators directly. She highlighted her ongoing efforts to conduct roadshows and evaluate the 20-year-old taxi recapitalization program on the ground. During these visits, she noted that local members have raised valid concerns, such as the need to expand the scrapping program to include vehicle models from 2006 onward, a detail previously unreported in formal leadership sittings.
A significant point of contention involves financial accountability. MEC Diale-Tlabela revealed that she recently probed the Gauteng Transport Taxi Industry Trust over a submitted report, requesting clarifications on fund allocations and program achievements. She cited the government-supported Shasha app as an example where challenges arose post-launch, emphasizing her duty as an executive authority to ensure every cent of public money is accounted for and properly utilized.
The dispute also centers on the distribution of operating licences. Following a backlog, a crisis committee was established with industry input, and the issuing process resumed last year. However, after the MEC began personally handing over licences at regional ceremonies, leadership complained about her departure from these events, alleging that departmental officials were subsequently withholding licences to demand bribes often around R500.
In response, the MEC doubled down on the regional ceremony model to eradicate internal syndicates and fraudulent activities. She revealed that the department has already intercepted duplicate applications and ghost memberships. By issuing licences association-by-association, the MEC aims to ensure transparency, allowing legitimate members to verify new applicants and eliminating the loopholes that front-desk collections allegedly exploit.
Beyond administrative hurdles, the MEC stressed the urgent need to sustain the taxi industry as a viable, indigenous Black business currently viewed as high-risk by financial institutions. She highlighted ongoing collaboration with the President and the Premier of Gauteng, noting that a specialized task team (PKTT) is actively focusing on eradicating the violence and killings plaguing the sector. She also called for joint efforts to stop the bullying and harassment of other transport modes, such as e-hailing services.
Looking ahead, a special meeting has been scheduled for 9:00 AM in Tshwane following a direct request from the taxi leadership. MEC Diale-Tlabela stated her primary agenda is to listen to their grievances and clarify the boundaries of their collaboration. She reiterated that while the government respects the industry as a business entity, it will not engage in “co-governing,” and must continue executing its constitutional duties.
Warning against the use of ultimatums and threats of strikes, the MEC cautioned that such actions ultimately harm the broader economy and the operators themselves. She noted that once commuters are driven away by service disruptions or harassment, they permanently switch to alternative transport modes, causing irreversible damage to the taxi industry’s viability.
The upcoming dialogue in Tshwane is expected to be a critical step in resetting the relationship, addressing the root causes of the operating licence delays, and forging a sustainable path forward for public transport in the province.
