Aggrieved taxi associations Gauteng National Taxi Alliance (GNTA) and the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) Gauteng have declared a dispute with Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela.
At a media briefing held at the Old Saal in Tshwane on Monday, the two taxi associations described their relations with the MEC as sour.
SANTACO Gauteng and GNTA members at a media briefing in Tshwane photos by Dimakatso Modipa
“We’ve had several engagements with the MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela regarding her bypassing established protocol by engaging taxi operators without including the constitutionally-elected leadership of the taxi industry,” said GNTA chairperson Mpho Motsepe.
Motsepe also wanted to know as to why taxi operators can’t be allowed to uplift operating licenses at places where they have applied for them.
Motsepe also complained about the constant impounding of taxi vehicles by Metro Police because trying to get the said vehicles back entails paying up large amounts of money.
He said taxi vehicles are impounded due to lack of proper operating licences the issuing of which is delayed as the whole process entails that “the application has to go throug a set of 26 hands.”
SANTACO Gauteng Chairperson Midday Mali called for the establishment of a commission of inquiry so that everybody can know as to what is happening in the taxi industry.
“Ever since the MEC started contacting the associations directly and ignoring the regional and provincial structures of the industry there is some friction as it seems like the associations are not in good terms with each other,” said Mali.
SANTACO chairperson Midday Mali criticised the delay by the MEC in issuing permits and also decried her tendency to contact taxi operators directly and sending letters to associations, resulting in a conflict within associations.
“Protocol must be followed and we are not apologetic about that as the government itself played a major role to establish the taxi industry structures that are in place today,” said Mali.
SANTACO and GNTA declared that the taxi industry is a private entity and not a government entity; that they are giving service to the government and that their structures must be respected and not be bypassed.
“We are being disrespected here as established structures and I don’t know why the government wants to interfere at association level, because as the taxi industry the government doesn’t subsidise us at all, yet it wants to hold us accountable,” said SANTACO Gauteng and GNTA.
The associations called on the government to start subsidising the taxi industry in the same way it subsidises the bus industry so that taxi commuters would pay less for using taxis.
Another matter which was raised at the briefing was the imminent cancellation of permit applications set to take place on 14 August 2026 as announced by the MEC.
“We say those applications for permits must not be cancelled because people paid money while making applications for permits and the government must consult us in this regard because we don’t want to hear about this matter via the media,” said the two organisations in a joint media statement.
The two associations have threatened to go on strike within seven days if their demands are not adhered to and announced that all taxis won’t be working on the day of the strike.
Full Media statement by SANTACO Gauteng and GNTA.
Full letters to Gauteng MEC Kedibone Diale Tlabela and Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi.
Breakdown of working Relationship with MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela
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