Gauteng Committees Welcome Government Intervention to End Taxi Violence

The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committees on Community Safety and on Transport & Logistics have welcomed the recent agreement between the provincial government and key taxi industry stakeholders aimed at putting an end to the ongoing taxi-related violence that has plagued the province.

This landmark decision was the outcome of a high-level meeting held on Friday, April 11, led by the MEC for Transport and Logistics, Honourable Kedibone Diale-Tlabela. The meeting included representatives from the Gauteng National Taxi Alliance (GNTA) and the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO).

The province has witnessed a troubling wave of taxi violence, with 59 people killed since the beginning of the year. In response, the meeting resolved to implement urgent interventions to halt the bloodshed.

Among the key resolutions was an immediate ceasefire between warring taxi associations and a commitment to dialogue and mediation. All involved parties have been instructed to participate in conflict resolution efforts and submit a progress report to the MEC by 29 April 2025.

To support these efforts, a dedicated Conflict Resolution Committee will be formed, consisting of members from the affected taxi associations. This body will operate under the direct supervision of MEC Diale-Tlabela to ensure transparency and accountability, particularly in resolving disputes over contested routes.

The Portfolio Committees have called on the South African Police Service (SAPS), Metro Police, and Crime Intelligence to intensify their operations to root out the causes of taxi violence.

With a constitutional mandate to oversee the work of the provincial government, especially concerning community safety and the public transport system, the Committees have pledged to monitor the implementation of the resolutions and hold both government and the taxi industry accountable.

They have also urged the Gauteng Provincial Government to act swiftly on the recommendations of the Shongwe Commission of Inquiry into taxi violence, which was established in 2019 to investigate the root causes of instability within the sector.

In a joint statement, the Committees commended the leadership of MEC Diale-Tlabela, the NTA, and SANTACO for prioritizing peaceful dialogue over violence.

“We urge taxi associations to honour the ceasefire, and we call on commuters and communities to report any threats to law enforcement. All stakeholders must work together to ensure a safer and more stable transport sector,” the statement read.

The Committees said the agreement signals a potential turning point in Gauteng’s efforts to end taxi violence and reiterated their commitment to ensuring the province’s transport system is safe, efficient, and free from conflict.

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