Gauteng transport committee welcomes agreement to end ongoing taxi violence

JOHANNESBURG - Gauteng’s community safety and transport committee has welcomed an agreement to end ongoing violence in the taxi industry.

The deal was reached during a high-level meeting on Friday, led by Gauteng’s Transport MEC, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, following a rise in tensions and violent incidents.

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In the meeting, the provincial government and taxi industry stakeholders agreed to an immediate ceasefire and committed to open dialogue with all affected associations.

Diale-Tlabela has warned that she’s prepared to shut down taxi ranks if the violence in the industry doesn’t stop.

Speaking at a prayer session in Soweto last week, Diale-Tlabela said the bloodshed has become a long-standing issue, one she remembers from her own school days.

Her comments follow the murder of three taxi marshals who were shot and killed in Mofolo in Soweto while on duty.

The provincial government, along with taxi industry leaders, have since agreed to an immediate ceasefire and committed to dialogue with all affected associations.

The chairperson of the community safety committee, Bandile Masuku, has also voiced concern over the rising violence, calling for urgent action to protect commuters and workers.

“This landmark commitment was agreed upon during a high-level meeting held on Friday, 11 April 2025, led by the MEC for Transport and Logistics, Honorable Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, with key taxi industry stakeholders. The meeting resolved on critical interventions to halt the bloodshed, which has claimed 59 lives in Gauteng since the beginning of this year.”

Masuku also urged all associations to honour the ceasefire agreement and engage in good faith.