WATCH | Santaco to discuss taxi industry challenges and e-hailing violence



The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) will address recent developments in the taxi industry, ongoing challenges in the public transport sector, and e-hailing-related violence during a media briefing on Tuesday morning.

The media briefing will take place in Johannesburg.

Santaco national spokesperson Mmatshikhidi Rebecca Phala said the briefing will cover key matters within the industry and outline the council’s strategic direction aimed at improving public transport and addressing pressing issues.

“The leadership of Santaco in Gauteng and nationally will address the briefing and answer questions from all journalists,” Phala said.

The announcement comes after the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport declared it illegal for anyone to stop vehicles, remove passengers, and force them to use taxis. 

This followed viral social media posts alleging that Santaco had warned motorists against carrying more than one passenger in their private vehicles.

The department responded, stating that Santaco in KwaZulu-Natal denied any knowledge of such actions and distanced itself from what it called “illegal operations.”

“We have contacted Santaco in KwaZulu-Natal, and the organisation has denied knowing the existence of such activities and has distanced itself from such illegal operations,” said department spokesperson Ndabe Sibiya.

Sibiya also shared a media statement from Santaco, which said the claims were “completely false and have no basis in fact.”

“We urge members of the public to refrain from spreading or believing unverified information, particularly on social media, as it may incite unnecessary panic and confusion. Santaco remains committed to operating transparently and lawfully, in the interest of all transport users and stakeholders,” the council said in the statement.

Santaco further noted with concern the circulation of misinformation suggesting it had instructed South Africans not to use private vehicles or travel with their families.

“We wish to place it on record that Santaco has never issued such communication and has never imposed any mode of transport on the public. Any individual making such claims is not, and has never been, speaking on behalf of the Council,” the council stated.

Phala strongly condemned the spread of false claims.

“Like all other paid-for transport services, taxi operations are voluntary and remain a choice available to commuters,” she said.

The briefing also follows a recent incident at Maponya Mall in Soweto, where Siyanda Mthokozisi Mvelase, 27, an e-hailing driver, was shot and burned to death in what is believed to be part of ongoing taxi violence.

Uber later said it had no record of Mvelase working on its platform. 

IOL News previously reported that he had only started working as an e-hailing driver two days before his death.

Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said one vehicle stopped at the entrance of the mall, where four men approached and opened fire on the driver before setting the car alight.

“Another vehicle nearby was also shot at, but the driver managed to flee. That vehicle was also torched,” said Nevhuhulwi.

A passer-by and the second driver sustained gunshot wounds and were taken to hospital.

Police have opened a case of murder, two counts of attempted murder, and arson.

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

IOL



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