The North West Provincial Legislature has welcomed a pledge made by the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management to investigate illegal taxi operations throughout the province. The department also pledged to empower and professionalise the taxi industry.
This came during a Transport and Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) feedback session that the North West Provincial Legislature hosted at Tigane Community Hall in Matlosana Local Municipality on Wednesday, 09 September 2015.
The feedback session was aimed at addressing Transport and ICT issues raised during the sectoral parliament that was held on the 11 March 2025 in Ditsobotla Local Municipality. Some of the issues raised by participants include illegal operations in the public transport sector; disattisfication regarding enforcement of relevant legislations available in the transport sector which includes bribery and corruption; poor road infrastructure and lack of ICT infrastructure in enhancing effective transport management systems.
The Chairperson for the Portfolio Committee on Public Works, Roads, Transport and Community Safety, Hon. Jeanette Dibetso-Nyathi who was chairing the session said the Legislature welcomes department’ stance on rooting out illegal taxi operations.
She said the department should conduct more engagements within the transport industry and share information on issues of regulations, empowerment and other related matters.
“The department must conduct a taxi indaba which will propose strategies that will re-empower the taxi forums and associations and necessary resources for their offices in taxi ranks. The industry should explore other transport opportunities such as in the tourism industry and other sectors which includes government,” said Hon. Dibetso-Nyathi.
She said local municipalities must reconsider building of bus and taxi shelters in their respective communities.
The Head of Department at the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management, Mr. Bailey Mahlakoleng said there is a departmental plan to conduct investigations on illegal taxi operations throughout the province.
“We urge legal taxi owners; drivers and members of the public to report these incidents to law enforcement officials such as traffic officials and the South African Police Services. Traffic officials involved in corruption and bribery are on suspension and some were dismissed by the department.
“The department has also resolved to halt issuing of new operating permits and licenses due to over-saturation of taxis in our roads. The provincial regulatory body is conducting an audit in all routes based on statistics of taxis per area; number of commuters per route and other necessary factors,” said Mr. Mahlakoleng.
He said departmental empowerment of the transport industry includes professionalisation of the industry and introduction of transport regulatory authority and public transport empowerment units within the department.
“Government aims to incorporate taxi owners into other transport modes such as patient transport; scholar transports and tour operators in Mahikeng and Pilanesburg airports. We are also empowering women in the industry with relevant business skills,” said Mr. Mahlakoleng.
The General-Secretary of SANTACO-North West, Mr. Sello Mongalo said government should lead on empowering taxi operators in new formal settlements within municipalities. “Incorporating taxis into new human settlements will reduce traffic congestions and conflicts in our areas and ensure that we are economically viable. We also request government to ensure that issuing of special permits for local; long and cross-border distances is conducted daily and be viable in all our municipalities,” said Mr. Mongalo.
He said municipalities must provide necessary transport infrastructure such as taxi and bus stops; boom-gates and commuter shelters in taxi ranks.
The event was attended by 300 stakeholders from different sectors including the South African National Taxi Council-North West; Department of Public Works and Roads and Department of Community Safety and Transport Management.
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