Commuters across parts of Ekurhuleni were left stranded on Wednesday after the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) suspended all operations in protest against what it calls the targeted impounding of its vehicles by traffic authorities.
The dispute hinges on operating licenses. SANTACO alleges that law enforcement officials are unfairly targeting their taxis and impounding them for not having valid permits. The council claims the necessary licenses are not being issued by the relevant authorities, leaving operators in an impossible position.
The situation has escalated significantly, with SANTACO’s local chairperson announcing that the protest action will not only continue into Thursday but also expand to more areas. He has called on other regions to join in, threatening to widen the strike across the entire Gauteng province. The industry is “bleeding money,” he stated, due to the impounded vehicles, and demands their release and high-level talks with government officials.
The impact was immediately visible at the Germiston taxi rank where operations came to a standstill. Commuters arriving from Johannesburg were forced to find alternative, often more expensive, transportation, with private vehicles and bakkies stepping in to fill the void.
In response, the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport expressed deep disappointment. The Head of Department (HOD), who spoke to reporters on the scene, revealed that provincial and national taxi leaders had met with the Transport and Police Ministers earlier today and made a “principal commitment” to abide by the law.
The HOD firmly rejected SANTACO’s claims, stating that the impounded vehicles were taken off the road for serious violations unrelated to licensing backlogs.
“Out of 35 vehicles that we have impounded, only two have [proof of application] receipt, and those receipts were as old as 2023,” the HOD said. He detailed that the vehicles were impounded for being unroadworthy, having no license at all, or having never even applied for one. “Clearly these are not current applications… It’s about operators that want to be on the road without following the law.”
Despite the firm stance on enforcement, officials promised continued engagement. Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela was en route to the area, and the HOD confirmed that discussions with taxi associations would continue through the night in an effort to avert a full-scale crisis on Thursday morning.
The provincial government’s expectation remains that “all law-abiding operators must be on the road” to ensure residents, workers, and schoolchildren can reach their destinations. However, with SANTACO vowing to continue and even expand its protest, thousands of commuters face further uncertainty and disruption.
