By Levy Masiteng
The Gauteng portfolio committees on community safety and transport and logistics are urging taxi associations to honour a ceasefire agreement reached over the weekend.
The deal between the Gauteng government, the Gauteng National Taxi Alliance (GNTA) and the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) aims to bring an immediate end to taxi-related violence in the province.
This year alone, 59 people have been killed. Thirty of them were last month.
This follows Gauteng transport MEC Kedibone Diale Tlabela threatening to close taxi ranks for six if violence continues.
Key agreements from the meeting include an immediate ceasefire and commitment to dialogue by all affected taxi associations, who must now engage in mediation talks and submit a progress report to the MEC by 29 April.
A dedicated conflict resolution committee comprising affected taxi associations will be established, convening only under the supervision of the MEC to ensure transparency and accountability in resolving disputes, particularly over contested routes.
Bandile Masuku, who chairs the community safety portfolio committee, said they would closely monitor the implementation of these resolutions and hold the government and taxi industry accountable for delivering lasting peace.
“We urge taxi associations to honor the ceasefire and engage in good faith, commuters and communities to report threats to law enforcement, and all stakeholders to work collectively toward a safer, conflict-free transport sector,” he said on Monday.
Masuku has also urged the provincial government to implement the recommendations of the Shongwe Commission of Inquiry into taxi violence, established in 2019, to investigate the root causes of the violence.
“This agreement marks a turning point in Gauteng’s fight against taxi violence. The committees remain committed to overseeing their enforcement and ensuring that the province’s public transport system operates safely, efficiently and peacefully for all,” he said.
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