PRETORIA, GAUTENG — The South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) has issued an urgent appeal for peace as anti-immigration protests continue to sweep across the country. Spokesperson Rebecca Phala emphasized that the taxi industry fears the unrest could severely disrupt cross-border transport and spark retaliation against citizens in neighboring SADC nations.
Speaking on the ongoing demonstrations targeting undocumented foreign nationals, Phala highlighted that taxi operations extend far beyond South Africa’s borders. The council expressed deep concern that violent or criminal actions locally could damage the country’s international reputation and lead to retaliatory attacks on South African vehicles and citizens operating in the broader SADC region.
The organization commended the President’s recent reassurance that law enforcement is on standby to prevent violence, noting their appreciation for the national government’s timely response to the crisis. However, SANTACO felt compelled to publicly dispel unfounded rumors suggesting the transport sector would join the mass action. Phala urged all citizens to operate strictly within the confines of the law, reiterating that South Africa is not an Afrophobic nation and must continue to coexist peacefully with fellow Africans.
During the engagement, the organization also faced scrutiny regarding past incidents of alleged lawlessness within the sector. This included a notable confrontation in Mpumalanga where some taxi operators openly threatened private vehicle owners who were carrying passengers. Phala firmly rejected the premise that individual criminality should be attributed to the entire council. She noted that SANTACO, founded in 2001, operates within the confines of the constitution and actively condemns illegal acts.
To counter these allegations, Phala pointed to recent internal disciplinary proceedings in the North West and highlighted the council’s proactive measures such as road safety campaigns and customer service training for rank-and-file workers. She stressed that when criminality occurs, it must be isolated to the specific individuals involved and reported to the police, rather than being unfairly blamed on the organization as a whole.
The conversation also addressed the frequent presence of SANTACO leadership in court to support Joe ‘Ferrari’ Sibanyoni, a taxi operator facing severe criminal charges alongside co-accused individuals. When questioned about the optics of this support and accusations of “guilty by association,” Phala drew a strict line between personal and organizational mandates.
She clarified that the leaders attend the court proceedings in their personal capacities as colleagues and friends of Sibanyoni, not as representatives of the council. Phala dismissed the “guilty by association” criticism as an unfair, street-level argument resembling a kangaroo court mentality. She maintained that it is nearly impossible for the council to account for the personal choices of its members outside their official portfolios, urging the public and critics to distinguish between individual actions and the official organizational stance of the council.
