We welcome government’s decision to extend South African driving licences from five to 10 years. It is encouraging to see government listening to motorists, who have long complained about frequent renewals. Five years is simply not a long enough validity period. This decision should ease pressure on the licensing system while helping licence holders save…
The suspension of police members in the Western Cape is a welcome step towards holding law-enforcement officers accountable when they are accused of breaking the very laws they are expected to uphold. However, we should not assume that these suspensions will automatically result in mass dismissals or bring immediate stability to the taxi industry. As…
The minibus taxi industry deserves recognition for prioritizing customer safety and service. It has transformed from a once-feared sector into a leading public transport option, thanks to initiatives like SANTACO’s Hlokomela and the National Taxi Alliance’s Ndlelanhle Safety campaigns, which have promoted professionalism, road safety, and customer care. Treatment of women and children at taxi…
The SANTACO Training Academy is being evicted from its premises by Harmony Gold mine management, despite previous leadership claiming the land and buildings were donated for full ownership. Things as they stand it appears that it is not the case that the training academy premises were donated according to Lejweleputswa Regional Taxi Council leadership. There…
The announcement of the Mdlanga Commission Inquiry to investigate allegations from General Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s press briefing initially seemed routine. Mkhwanazi revealed police, judicial, and political involvement in criminal activities, shocking the public and confirming long-held suspicions among some. Unexpectedly, the taxi industry has become linked to criminal activities beyond the taxi industry’s realm….
Although reforms in the taxi industry are frequently discussed, measurable progress remains limited. Some stakeholders highlight significant achievements in professionalising the sector, noting that taxi associations now function as businesses, conduct regular elections, and benefit from government support through initiatives such as the Covid-19 Relief Grant, Taxi Scrapping Agency, and Office Grants. Nonetheless, accountability standards…
