JOHANNESBURG — Gauteng Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela has firmly dismissed claims of a broken relationship with the provincial taxi industry, pushing back against a seven-day ultimatum for a protest march over operating licenses and consultation protocols. The escalating dispute centers on the industry’s allegations of sidelined governance structures and administrative failures, while the MEC maintains she is actively dismantling corrupt practices and ghost memberships to protect genuine operators.
The conflict reached a boiling point after taxi industry representatives held a briefing accusing the MEC of bypassing recognized provincial leadership structures and making decisions affecting thousands of operators without meaningful consultation. Industry leaders highlighted severe administrative burdens, particularly regarding operating licenses that require renewal every five to seven years. Operators claim that licenses have been relocated to central offices, forcing drivers to travel long distances to collect them, thereby disrupting daily operations and commuter services.
According to industry spokespersons, the department’s administrative failures are unfairly shifting the burden onto operators. They revealed that letters requesting urgent meetings were sent to the MEC on June 29, 2026, and to Premier Panyaza Lesufi on July 10, 2026, neither of which received an acknowledgment or response. The industry has also raised concerns about the handling of the national consolidated fund, specifically regarding remnants of the Taxi Recapitalisation Programme (TRP) and Integrated Rapid Public Transport Network (IRTN) funds, alleging these were announced without proper presentation to provincial leadership.
Faced with what they describe as undermined democratic governance structures, the taxi industry has issued a seven-day deadline for the Premier to intervene and facilitate a meeting. If their grievances are ignored, they have threatened to organize a protest march to the Premier’s office, a move that carries the implicit risk of a broader transport shutdown affecting millions of commuters.
In a direct response, MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela expressed shock at the “broken relationship” narrative, insisting that structured engagements remain firmly in place. She pointed to standard quarterly meetings, noting the last official engagement occurred on May 11. The MEC stated she had assigned specific tasks to the industry regarding the Taxi Industry Trust and is still awaiting their feedback on unresolved queries.
Addressing the core operational complaints, MEC Diale-Tlabela defended her decision to personally dedicate two days a week to issuing operating licenses across various regions. She explained this direct intervention was necessary to eradicate illegality and “ghost workers” within the associations. She cited stark discrepancies discovered during her ground-level verification, revealing instances where associations claimed membership rolls of 4,000 to 4,800, but actual verified members numbered only between 500 and 800.
The MEC conceded that corrupt and fraudulent activities have historically occurred within the department, which she is now actively cleaning up. She argued that her “roadshows” to local associations are essential sectoral engagements to ensure genuine operators receive free, backlogged licenses and to assist them in navigating the 2006 Taxi Recapitalisation Programme. This program aims to scrap unroadworthy vehicles, which she noted are often referred to as “coffins on wheels” due to the severe safety risks they pose.
When challenged on the industry’s claim that she bypasses leadership protocols by going directly to local associations, the MEC asserted that as citizens and community members, operators have the right to engage directly with government. She emphasized that she does not require permission from association leadership to conduct government business or to ensure that public funds and services reach those who genuinely need them.
While acknowledging the Premier’s willingness to meet with the industry, MEC Diale-Tlabela urged taxi leadership to prioritize the interests of their broader membership over internal control. She reiterated that her door remains open for engagement before the seven-day deadline expires, emphasizing that the government will not be intimidated by threats but remains committed to finding a lasting, sustainable solution for the province’s public transport sector.
