The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng demands urgent action to end taxi-related violence and lawlessness that continues to endanger lives and destabilise communities. Renewed clashes between rival Soweto taxi associations have resulted in multiple fatalities, road blockades, and heightened fear among commuters and residents.
The DA will use all tools available in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, including tabling a motion demanding Premier Panyaza Lesufi and relevant MECs to present a concrete plan to address this crisis.
A recent video that has gone viral even showing a man from a taxi smashing a woman’s vehicle with a tyre spanner.
This crisis underscores the Gauteng government’s failure to rein in an industry that operates with impunity, while law enforcement agencies in the province remain passive bystanders.
The lawlessness of taxis has long been ignored by Gauteng’s law enforcement agencies. Metro police departments lack the will and resources to hold reckless drivers accountable, allowing taxis to flout traffic laws, intimidate motorists, and endanger passengers daily. The DA has repeatedly raised concerns over inadequate policing of the taxi routes, illegal ranks, and blatant disregard for road regulations. This inertia has normalised a culture of lawlessness that now culminates in bloodshed.
While the government bears primary responsibility, the taxi industry cannot evade accountability. Associations must self-regulate by enforcing strict codes of conduct for operators and drivers. We call on industry leaders to establish disciplinary committees to penalise rogue members, suspend drivers who endanger lives, and collaborate with law enforcement to fight criminal elements. The industry’s moral duty to protect its patrons and workers is non-negotiable.
The DA proposes the following urgent interventions to halt taxi violence:
- Gauteng SAPS together with the Metro Police Departments to present a tangible and immediate action plan to curb and prosecute reckless driving and lawlessness on our roads.
- Impose harsher fines and sentences such as revocation of driving license without the option to re-apply for serious offending public transport drivers.
- Launch community and passenger tip-off hotline to report any reckless drivers.
- Remove illegal vehicles by impounding unroadworthy vehicles and those operating without permits.
We cannot allow gangsterism and incompetence to dictate the safety of our roads.
The people of Gauteng deserve a government that prioritises lives over leniency. A DA-led Gauteng Provincial Government would commit to restoring order, ensuring accountability, and building a province where public transport is safe, reliable, and dignified.