JOY AS MEC TLABELA FINALLY ROLLS OUT LICENSES TO TAXI OPERATORS

There was joy and utter satisfaction when MEC for Roads and Transport in Gauteng Kedibone Diale- Tlabela finally rolled out the long overdue licenses to Tshwane taxi operators at the Smart Licensing Centre at the Denlyn Mall in Mamelodi on Sunday.

Diale-Tlabela announced that those who continue to operate without licenses will always get their vehicles impounded.

She made it clear that those who fail to come and collect their operating licenses within 14 days after the March 31, 2026 deadline will forfeit such licenses.

“We have been experiencing a backlog regarding the issuing of taxi licenses since 2009 due to some corrupt activities in this regard and I am therefore issuing out these operating licenses personally,” said Diale-Tlabela.

Taxi owner Vanessa Khumalo was grateful to have received her operating license because her vehicles have been impounded several times and has had to pay over R10 000 in fines in order to get her vehicles back.

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81-year-old Mabopane taxi operator Amos Msweli was overwhelmed by the MEC’s decision to grant him an operating license as he has been struggling for many years now to get one.

Another operator Johannes Mahlangu from Hammanskraal thanked the MEC for issuing him a license and revealed that his vehicle has never been impounded because he always talked nicely and obeyed the law as enforced by traffic officers.

Peter Malungane from the Mamelodi Amalgamated Taxi Association was overjoyed after being granted an operating license because his vehicle has been impounded more than three times and has lost over R10 000 due to paying fines.

“I would like to thank the MEC for fast-tracking the issuing of taxi licenses and I am saying she must keep up the good work,” he said.

Khomotso Tryphina Maphosa appealed for all operating licenses to be issued en masse as the vehicles will be needed during the festive season to transport people to various destinations.

Her vehicle has been impounded several times over the years but she is now happy that she has received her license.

Aletta Mamafoko Tamela (73) admitted that her driver used to bribe police so as to avoid her taxi vehicle being impounded and she appealed to the traffic officers not to take away their vehicles for long periods after impouding them.

“We are here to support the MEC for issuing taxi operating licenses and I would like to urge our members to submit all the needed documents and also make sure that they inform the authorities in case they have changed their contact details as this will make it easy for them to be easily contacted,” said Mamelodi Local and Long Distance Taxi Association chairperson Stemmer Monageng.

“About 40 operating licenses have been issued today and I am happy because it is the first time that such a large number of licenses have been issued in a single day,”said Monageng.

“Don’t pay bribes to traffic officers anymore, you are now free to operate legally and stop buying operating licenses with amounts of up to R50 000 because you can apply for an operating license legally for only R600,” said Monageng.