Most daily commuters in South Africa get to work and back in a minibus taxi. That makes what happens in this industry a public safety issue, not a niche dispute. This week, SANTACO tried to draw a line after the killing of an e-hailing driver at Maponya Mall in Soweto, promising a zero-tolerance stance on violence involving its members.
Announcing the move in Johannesburg, council president Motlabane Tsebe said any operator, driver, or official linked to violent conduct will be shown the door. Expulsion from the association will be immediate, he said, with cases handed to the police. The council is assisting the victim’s family and has opened a probe into the Soweto attack along with other recent incidents.
A public promise after a killing
The Soweto case has reignited anger over intimidation in the transport sector and shone a light on long-simmering friction between traditional taxi services and e-hailing platforms such as Uber and Bolt. In parallel, videos circulating online show men in taxi-branded clothing forcing people out of private cars and telling them to use minibus taxis instead. The images cut straight to the heart of the trust problem: commuters want to choose their ride without fear.
Tsebe pushed back against claims that taxi associations are waging an organised campaign against e-hailing. He said members live in the same communities they serve and cannot dictate how people travel. The council’s message this time was blunt: anyone found to be intimidating passengers or attacking rivals will be expelled and reported to authorities.
That stance matters. The taxi sector carries the bulk of South Africa’s commuters, often where buses and trains don’t reach or aren’t reliable. But the industry has also accumulated baggage: unregulated routes in some areas, allegations of corruption, unlicensed drivers, and turf disputes that sometimes turn violent. Each headline scares commuters and drains confidence from a system millions depend on.
The tension with e-hailing is partly about money and space. E-hailing cars pick up where people are, often near taxi ranks and malls that taxi associations view as their trading ground. Drivers from both sides complain about harassment, while shoppers and workers get caught in the middle. When a confrontation ends in bloodshed, the reputational damage is huge — and reform becomes urgent.
What zero tolerance looks like — and what needs to change
Zero tolerance is easy to say and hard to enforce. For it to stick, enforcement has to be visible and consistent — not just statements at press briefings. According to SANTACO’s leadership, that now includes internal disciplinary processes, rapid suspensions, and permanent expulsion when violence is proven. Crucially, cases will be referred to the South African Police Service for criminal investigation.
Associations do not issue operating permits — regulators do — but the council can tighten its own house: bar offenders from taxi ranks it oversees, cut them out of association structures, and notify provincial authorities when permits should be reviewed. That combination of internal discipline and external law enforcement is the only realistic route to deterrence.
The council is also probing the viral videos of commuters being forced from cars. Those incidents — intimidation, assault, and coerced trade — are not grey areas. They undermine the basic freedom of movement that commuters expect. Taking them seriously will mean naming individuals, securing evidence, and cooperating with prosecutors, not just issuing warnings.
Industry analysts point to a broader fix: clear, enforced rules for where e-hailing can pick up and drop off around busy hubs; basic training and vetting for rank marshals; and a joint code of conduct signed by taxi associations and e-hailing companies. When everyone knows the rules — and sees that breaches have consequences — flashpoints tend to fade.
Cost pressures can’t be ignored either. Rising fuel prices, vehicle finance, and maintenance squeeze drivers who often rely on daily targets. E-hailing drivers face similar squeeze from commissions and dynamic pricing. Economic stress is not an excuse for violence, but it explains why tempers run hot and why stable, predictable regulation is essential.
For commuters, the immediate question is simple: will this change stick? The next few weeks are the test. If assaults drop, if known hot spots calm down, and if people see taxis and e-hailing cars operating side by side without intimidation, then the council’s promise starts to feel real. If not, this will be remembered as another press-room pledge.
Here’s what to watch for next:
- Visible disciplinary outcomes from SANTACO structures — names, dates, and the specific sanctions imposed.
- Active police cases linked to recent incidents, with updates on arrests and court appearances.
- Clear pick-up and drop-off rules at malls and taxi ranks, communicated to drivers and commuters.
- Joint forums between taxi associations, e-hailing platforms, and local authorities to fix hot spots.
The taxi industry remains the backbone of daily travel for millions. Giving people real freedom to choose — without threats — is the starting point for rebuilding trust. If the zero-tolerance promise is backed by enforcement, training, and transparent discipline, the sector can keep doing what it does best: moving South Africa, safely, at scale.
