The taxi industry will hold a historic referendum in 2027 to determine how associations affiliate with national umbrella bodies and to curb the growth of splinter groups in North West Province.
The referendum puts democracy into practice by allowing taxi operators— not government—to decidehow their associations should be governed and which umbrella body they wish to join.
Attention will centre on the Moruleng & District Taxi Association (MODITA), an affiliate of the National Taxi Alliance (NTA), whose members will participate alongside a splinter group using the same name and closely linked to SANTACO’s regional structure.
Other taxi associations in the region facing similar disputes as MODITA will also participate, as the referendum will be conducted province-wide.
South Africa’s last major referendum took place on 17 March 1992, when former State President F. W. de Klerk asked white voters to endorse negotiations to end apartheid.
The taxi referendum is significant because it will take place under South Africa’s democratic system, enabling taxi operators to exercise their constitutional right to freedom of association and choose which national taxi structure their taxi association to join.
We commend the North West provincial government for remaining impartial while supporting this industry-led referendum as a selfregulatory tool to strengthen democracy in the taxi sector.
We also applaud taxi operators for rejecting division and working together to grow their industry irrespective of the outcome of the referendum. The principle is clear: operators should determine their own future, while government should provide support through resources, legislation, and law enforcement.
Gauteng province provides a strong example of unity within the taxi industry across different umbrella bodies.
We hope the referendum will reduce splinter groups and promote peace and stability across the industry as the outcome will be binding on participants.
