By Alicia Mashakana
The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport has called for calm between the Nancefield-Dube West Taxi Association (NANDUWE) and the Witwatersrand African Taxi Association (WATA) following a decision on taxi routes amid escalating violence between the two associations.
This comes hot on the heels of a decision by the Gauteng Provincial Regulatory Entity (GPRE) to officially declare that NANDUWE has the right to operate on routes which have been at the centre of dispute with WATA in Soweto and surrounding areas.
Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, said: “As the competent authority on these matters, I appeal to all parties to respect this decision and ensure the safety of commuters in these areas. As a provincial government, in collaboration with law enforcement agencies, we are committed to safeguarding communities and maintaining normal operations.”
The decision, announced by GPRE in a meeting involving national, provincial, and regional structures of both the South African National Taxi Council Gauteng (SANTACO) and the Gauteng National Taxi Alliance (GNTA) a week ago, allows NANDUWE to begin operations on these routes starting Monday, January 20, 2025.
The approved routes include:
- Mofolo – Kwa Mthethwa Informal Taxi Rank to Jeppe Station Taxi Rank
- Dube Station Taxi Rank to Jeppe Station Taxi Rank
- Makhetha Garage (Phefeni) Taxi Rank to Jeppe Station Taxi Rank
- Uncle Toms Hall Taxi Rank to Jeppe Station Taxi Rank
GPRE also specified that minibus taxis from other associations passing through these areas may not pick up passengers or terminate journeys (“load” or “bind”) in these areas, as these are not their designated starting points.
Furthermore, the decision allows WATA only to “off-load” passengers on these specified routes, not to “load” or “bind.”
During the announcement, SANTACO President Abner Tsebe and NTA Deputy President Piet Mahlangu, present at a two-day meeting in early December 2024 leading to the decision, unanimously accepted it.
They urged regional and provincial leaders to collaborate with GPRE in its implementation, emphasizing the need to prevent further violence.
Diale-Tlabela commended the maturity shown by all parties in accepting the decision and appealed for calm during the implementation process.
“We are committed to working with the industry to find lasting solutions to all challenges facing the taxi industry and restore peace across the public transport sector,” Diale-Tlabela.
The conflict, spanning over a decade, has resulted in violent clashes between rival associations.
“NANDUWE had ceased operations voluntarily before the May 2024 elections pending a decision on the disputed routes,” Gauteng Transport Department spokesperson Lesiba Mpya said.
“There were sporadic clashes upon attempts to resume operations, but these were contained thanks to the taxi task team deployed by the Department in collaboration with law enforcement agencies to monitor the disputed routes,” said Mpya.
The Department acknowledged that WATA is consulting with its legal team to potentially appeal GPRE’s decision.
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