War declared on mafia taking hold on South Africa’s roads

The Gauteng provincial government has its crosshairs on taxi operators using mafia-style tactics, and it has been elevated to the province’s war room to be urgently addressed.

Taxi operators in South Africa are increasingly using mafia-style tactics to intimidate and extort private citizens, schools, and businesses.

These aggressive actions have drawn criticism from politicians, civil society, and law enforcement agencies, but regulatory bodies have responded weakly, allowing the problem to grow.

Recent investigations by Carte Blanche exposed disturbing incidents where taxi operators regularly threaten and use violence in some cases to control passenger transport. 

This includes targeting private transport providers, schools, and even individuals offering lifts to family members or coworkers with the excuse they do it to protect their livelihoods. 

These incidents have been reported all over the country, including Limpopo, the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, and Mpumalanga, where taxi enforcers patrol roads and aggressively confront private motorists. 

The e-hailing industry has also been the target of taxi associations for several years now, with taxi operators resorting to violence.

In June 2023, several Uber drivers’ cars were torched outside malls in Soweto following a dispute with the local Taxi Association, which accused the e-hailing services of stealing their business.

The South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) defended these patrols as a security measure to safeguard their business.

Mpumalanga chairperson Fanyana Sibanyoni argued that private motorists carrying passengers without a permit infringe on taxi operators’ rights.

However, National police commissioner Fanie Masemola clarified that taxi enforcers have no legal right to stop vehicles or impose fines, and their actions constitute harassment.

Despite SANTACO’s acknowledgement that these actions damage the industry’s reputation, taxi associations rarely impose consequences on members who engage in intimidation and extortion.

Gauteng traffic police spokesperson Sello Morani stressed that taxi operators have no right to stop vehicles or demand payments.

While over 50 arrests were made last year, law enforcement alone has proven insufficient.

The problem escalated to “war” room

Speaking with 702, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi acknowledged the alarming behaviour of many taxi drivers, which the Premier labelled as “bullying.”

“There is a broader concern surrounding the taxi industry, noting that some associations act as if they are a law unto themselves,” he said.

“The need to render services in our communities is crucial, but unfortunately, there are grey lines in how the taxi industry operates,” he added.

Lesufi further pointed out that school transport drivers have raised concerns about the taxi industry attempting to take over their market, creating serious tension within the sector.

Referring to specific instances of violence, he noted that a serious conflict is unfolding across the province, particularly in Zonkizizwe, which has been brought to the government’s attention.

“The entire issue of taxi violence has been escalated to our war room, and we are actively working on solutions,” Lesufi said.

He explained that he had not yet made a public pronouncement on certain matters because the government prefers to act on concrete evidence and implement measures that will have a lasting impact.

“There is an urgent need to intervene in the taxi industry,” he said. He also cited the example of Soweto, where, for almost a year, residents could not use taxis due to violent disputes between taxi associations.

Lesufi also assured the public that the provincial government is taking these issues seriously and working toward long-term solutions to restore order and safety in the transport sector.