WATCH: Lesufi blames taxi violence on corrupt licensing, calls for cashless fares

By Charmaine Ndlela and Lebone Rodah Mosima

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has blamed fraudulent operating licences and corruption inside the provincial transport department for persistent taxi violence.

He said on Thursday that the province must invest in tracking technology and cashless payment systems to end the bloodshed.

“The entire problem of the taxi violence is licensing. If we don’t have the capacity, capability, in the system to manage the licensing regime – I doubt it will take us where it needs to be,” he said.

“Until we invest in the technology that if a taxi veers out of where they are supposed to be, and it is reported to us, and we receive reports from law enforcement agencies, we are not going to resolve this issue,” he said.

Lesufi said vehicle registration systems should allow authorities to identify owners instantly. He also said minibus taxis should move to cashless fares,