Image Source: Polity
Local – The South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) in Gauteng issued Premier Panyaza Lesufi a seven-day ultimatum to intervene in an escalating dispute with the MEC for roads and transport, warning that a province-wide shutdown could follow if talks did not resume.
Taxi bodies accused the MEC of sidelining elected leadership, delaying operating licences and creating administrative chaos, claims her department has rejected.
SANTACO spokesperson Graham Fritz said the ultimatum was meant to force a sit-down between the taxi industry, the MEC and the premier rather than spark immediate action. He said the industry wanted the matter resolved through dialogue.
“The shutdown is actually just a last ultimatum for us. We really would like to have a collaboration between the MEC and also if the premier can attend that meeting so that we can discuss all our challenges and issues at the round table,” Fritz said.
Licence Backlogs Fuel Growing Tension
Fritz said relations broke down after the MEC met individual taxi associations without provincial leadership present. He also detailed frustrations over operating licences being issued from only two of five regional venues, forcing operators to travel long distances to collect them, with thousands of licences still backlogged despite a crisis committee formed in 2023.
He said the industry remained willing to negotiate, but only if the MEC and premier agreed to include provincial leadership in future talks.
“We are open for negotiations and talks, and our table is always in any time available for any meeting, as long as the MEC and the premier are also available to have it with us,” Fritz said.
Commuters Caught in the Middle
With commuters facing possible disruption, Fritz appealed directly to the millions who rely on taxis daily, saying a shutdown was not the industry’s preferred outcome. He said the taxi industry transported roughly 80% of South Africans and did not want to see them left stranded.
Fritz said a shutdown would only happen if there was no communication between the provincial government and the transport department.
“Our people, we don’t want to do this. We don’t want to have a strike. But unfortunately, if there’s no communication between the transport department and the premier of Gauteng, we will have to have a shutdown,” Fritz said.
