Photo of Nomonde Simelane

Commuters plead for better public transport amid SANTACO woes

1y By Nomonde Simelane

For some years now, South Africans have voiced concern and frustration over the regulation of the taxi industry. As tensions between SANTACO, the government, and the public continue to escalate, calls for an improved public transportation system have grown louder.

The South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) describes itself as the unified voice of Mzansi’s taxi industry, and “is committed to driving transformation, innovation, and empowerment across our communities,” as per their website.

Over the years, the organisation has garnered a somewhat controversial reputation, with some members of the public expressing frustration at the lack of regulation of the taxi industry. These citizens criticize both the government and SANTACO for allowing the taxi industry to basically function as the public transport system, when it is the government’s job to provide such.

Recently, SANTACO announced a two-day taxi shutdown scheduled for 4-5 September in Durban, following the impounding of minibuses by the Durban Metro Police in Claremont, Pinetown, for allegedly operating without permits. The organisation complains of a slow, inconsistent, and heavily bureaucratic permitting system, that makes it nearly impossible to attain permits efficiently, and has put the strike in place in hopes of engaging further with municipal leaders about a way forward.

As some have done in the past, more and more commuters have since called on the government to provide citizens with better state-led transport systems as an alternative to the heavy reliance on SANTACO. Citing reasons such as reliability, stability, affordability, safety, and more, commuters have advocated for better, and call on the government to effect some change before it is too late.

Furthermore, some citizens express frustration at how the taxi industry has become synonymous with anarchy, as they have been allowed to do as they please without any consequence. They highlight how the government’s failure to act will always puts commuters at the mercy of an arrogant SANTACO, and cite recent events where they announced a strike at 10h00, leaving commuters stranded with no way to get home, after commuting them to work in the morning.

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