The Department of Transport has condemned acts of violence and criminality that resulted in the tragic death of an e-hailing driver and the injury of two others at Maponya Mall, in Soweto.
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy, and Deputy Minister, Mkhuleko Hlengwa strongly condemned these acts.
“They also expressed their message of condolences to the bereaved family who lost their loved one. [They] further indicated that such criminal behaviour has no place in the public transport sector, and that those responsible must face the full might of the law,” the Department of Transport said on Thursday.
Reports indicate that violence erupted in Gauteng’s Soweto on Wednesday at the mall, allegedly involving taxi operators and e-hailing drivers.
READ | Gauteng government to visit Maponya Mall
Gauteng police are reportedly monitoring a protest by community members that is taking place outside the mall.
The Department of Transport has indicated that it is addressing the entirety of the challenges affecting the public transport system.
“Central to the issues addressed is the persistent violence across the system. In a meeting held on 25 April 2025, Minister Creecy and the taxi industry leadership unanimously denounced violence in the industry.
“The meeting also agreed on a formation of a task team between the National and Gauteng Provincial Departments of Transport to fast track the process of digitisation of the issuing of operating licences to resolve route encroachments in the taxi industry, which is the main cause of taxi violence,” the department said.
The taxi industry leadership was also requested to reflect on this matter and make tangible proposals to government on the way forward.
Furthermore, the department is implementing the National Land Transport Information System, which will among other things, ensure that the operating licences are linked to the National Traffic Information System (eNATIS) eliminate the unlawful usage of one operating licence for more than one taxi vehicle.
Meanwhile, last year President Cyril Ramaphosa signed into law the amended National Land Transport Act (NLTA) 5 of 2009, paving the way for e-hailing services operators to apply for operating licences like any other public transport operator.
The President also signed into law the Transport Appeal Tribunal Amendment Act on 11 June 2024.
“The regulations have been approved, now awaiting the second official language translation for gazetting and implementation of the Amendment Act. This will usher in a new era in the regulation of the e-hailing services,” the department said. -SAnews.gov.za
