Warning for taxi owners in South Africa

 ·16 Jan 2025

A concerning trend of taxi operators intimidating private vehicles transporting passengers has emerged in South Africa, prompting stern warnings from authorities.

The Eastern Cape Department of Transport recently addressed reports of taxi drivers harassing private scholar transport operators.

Allegedly, taxi operators have not only demanded money from these contractors but also actively barred them from dropping children off at schools, particularly in the Mthatha area.

Horatio Hendricks of the Democratic Alliance expressed deep concern over these actions, describing them as disruptive, unlawful, and traumatising for the children involved.

He emphasised that taxi operators have no legal authority to interfere with other transport providers or dictate who may transport learners.

Hendricks stressed the need for children’s safety and education to remain a priority, condemning actions that place undue strain on parents and disrupt students’ ability to attend school on time.

The issue isn’t confined to the Eastern Cape.

In Limpopo, taxi associations reportedly issued notices instructing employers and schools to ensure employees and learners exclusively use taxis for commuting.

A signed notice circulating on social media in October 2024 announced the enforcement of this rule from 1 November.

Such moves have alarmed the public, especially following videos in other parts of the county of taxi association patrols terrorising drivers who gave lifts to pedestrians, hitchhikers, or even family members.

Defending these patrols, the South African National Taxi Council’s (Santaco’s) Mpumalanga chairperson, Fanyana Sibanyoni, claimed they were for security purposes, stating, “Every company has the right to have security to look after their businesses.”

Sibanyoni further argued that private car owners lacked permits to transport passengers and were infringing on taxi operators’ rights.

However, national police commissioner Fanie Masemola clarified that these patrollers have no legal authority to stop or fine motorists.

“They can stop their own taxis but cannot interfere with members of the public,” he affirmed.

Stefanie Fick from the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) echoed this sentiment, condemning the patrollers’ actions as harassment and extortion.

Fick highlighted that patrollers have no legal standing to pull over vehicles or demand fines, as law enforcement duties lie with the South African Police Service and metro police departments.

Fick also pointed out that the white lights taxi patrols use are regulated under the National Road Traffic Regulations.

These lights are reserved for registered security providers conducting lawful activities, which patrollers’ actions do not qualify as.

She urged motorists to safely evade these patrols and report incidents to the police. According to her, patrols’ demands for fines constitute extortion, necessitating immediate law enforcement intervention to prevent such practices.

This growing issue underscores the need for urgent action to safeguard motorists’ rights and ensure passengers’ safety.

While the taxi industry plays a critical role in South Africa’s transport sector, its operators must adhere to the law.

Intimidation, harassment, and illegal roadblocks only exacerbate the challenges faced by parents, learners, and other transport providers, calling for stricter enforcement and accountability to restore public trust and safety on the roads.


Read: Alarming criminal tactic makes a comeback in South Africa

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