By Thapelo Molefe
The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport says a review of the province’s taxi operating licence system has already uncovered discrepancies requiring further investigation, as the Gauteng Taxi Industry (GTI) has given the provincial government seven days to respond to its demands or face possible protest action.
Briefing the media on Monday, Roads and Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela said the review was launched after concerns emerged about irregularities, inconsistent administrative practices and possible corruption in the issuing of operating licences.
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She said the preliminary findings had confirmed the need for tighter oversight of the licensing system.
“These interventions are a direct response to allegations of irregularities, inconsistent administrative practices and possible corruption within the system. We have a responsibility to act decisively to protect legitimate operators and restore public confidence,” Diale-Tlabela said.
The department said the review was aimed at strengthening governance while ensuring legitimate taxi and other public transport operators were not disadvantaged by irregular practices.
Diale-Tlabela said although Transport Operating Licence Administrative Bodies (TOLABs) remained responsible for processing licences, the provincial government retained overall responsibility for ensuring the system was lawful, transparent and free from irregularities.
Earlier on Monday, the GTI, comprising the Gauteng National Taxi Alliance (GNTA) and SANTACO Gauteng, accused the MEC of undermining recognised provincial and regional taxi leadership by engaging directly with taxi associations without involving elected leadership structures.
The industry also raised concerns about the operating licence collection process, saying centralised collection points, poor communication and administrative shortcomings had left many operators at risk of losing their licences through no fault of their own.
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Among its demands, the GTI called on the MEC to respect recognised taxi industry leadership structures, suspend any adverse action linked to the current operating licence collection process, engage directly with provincial leadership to resolve the Operating Licence Administration System (OLAS) backlog, and restore a working relationship based on consultation, transparency and mutual respect.
SANTACO Gauteng spokesperson Graham Fritz said the industry had written to both Diale-Tlabela and Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi requesting meetings but had received no response.
“We have even written a letter to the MEC’s office. We’ve written a letter to the Premier as well to request a meeting with the Premier himself. Up until now, we didn’t even get an acknowledgement from the Premier,” Fritz said.
“Hence, we had to then take this stance of saying, let us go to the media before we go to the extra length of the protest or the shutdown. We are open for negotiations. As I said, it’s our last straw.”
Responding to the criticism, Diale-Tlabela said the department’s engagement with taxi operators formed part of its constitutional and legislative responsibilities and would continue through established structures, including quarterly meetings with provincial taxi leadership.
“As government, we are obligated to ensure an efficient, integrated and accountable public transport system. Our engagements with operators are aimed at strengthening communication, improving governance, and ensuring that government remains accessible to all stakeholders,” she said.
Fritz said the industry was not opposed to the MEC engaging directly with taxi associations but wanted recognised leadership structures to be included in those engagements.
“We don’t have a challenge with the MEC going to the associations. We only have a challenge with not taking the leadership of the structures with, from SANTACO and GNTA as well,” he said.
Diale-Tlabela also defended the department’s relationship with the industry, saying taxi operators remained central to Gauteng’s public transport network.
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“The taxi industry remains a critical pillar in the provision of public transport services, moving millions of Gauteng residents daily. The Department values its long-standing relationship with organised taxi leadership and remains committed to building a safe, reliable and commuter-centred public transport system,” she said.
Despite issuing the ultimatum, Fritz said the taxi industry still preferred dialogue over protest action.
“We don’t really want this protest, because we don’t want to inconvenience our own passengers. Remember, we are ferrying around about 80% of the entire South Africa,” he said.
The department also urged operators, particularly those in the minibus taxi and scholar transport sectors, to collect their operating licences by 14 August after being notified by SMS or through their associations. It warned that licences not collected by the deadline could be cancelled.
