The South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) has reaffirmed its commitment to addressing violence in the minibus taxi industry, calling for collective action and structural reform. This comes amid renewed concerns over ongoing conflict and criminal activity linked to the sector.
Speaking on behalf of the Western Cape branch, SANTACO’s Mandla Hermanus said reducing violence requires collaborative efforts from all key stakeholders, including government, law enforcement, and industry leadership.
“We are here to address the violence plaguing the sector. We need to be proactive, not reactive. It is time we put structures in place to intervene before violence occurs,” said Hermanus.
Hermanus also stressed the need to move away from a cash-based system, suggesting that exploring digital and alternative payment methods could significantly reduce incidents of violence related to money handling.
The call for reform was echoed by Western Cape Provincial Minister of Mobility, Isaac Sileku, who described the ongoing killings within the industry as “senseless” and unacceptable.
“The summit has been very engaging. We have come up with good strategies to move forward, but lasting change will only come through hard work, accountability, and cooperation between all role players,” said Sileku.
Both leaders highlighted the urgency of developing tangible solutions to address crime, improve commuter safety, and restore public trust in the taxi industry, a sector vital to South Africa’s public transport system.
