The Gauteng taxi industry, represented by SANTACO Gauteng and the Gauteng National Taxi Alliance, held a constructive meeting on Thursday with the Gauteng Minister of Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diala-Tleblala. Issues concerning provincial public transport were discussed.
Both sides openly shared their concerns and agreed to hold a follow-up meeting within 14 days to resolve outstanding issues in the interest of both passengers and operators. Passengers were guaranteed that taxi operations would continue as usual, without service suspensions or route changes across the province.
Acknowledging that recent events may have caused uncertainty, the Gauteng taxi industry apologized for any concern or inconvenience that may have arisen.
Theo Mulele, national press secretary for the Gauteng National Taxi Alliance, emphasized that the industry values the trust of millions of passengers who use its services daily. He added that the industry deliberately chose the path of dialogue, ensuring that passengers are not left in a disadvantageous position during discussions.
Mulele stated that the taxi industry remains committed to cooperating with the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport to settle all remaining issues. He expressed confidence that the next meeting will improve the provision of public transport services and strengthen relations between the government and the taxi industry.
Mulele concluded by thanking passengers, stakeholders, and the public for their patience, understanding, and continued support, reaffirming the industry's commitment to providing safe, reliable, and uninterrupted public transport services throughout Gauteng.
The Gauteng Transport Department issued a warning to taxi operators, requiring them to obtain valid licenses by August 14, or face the risk of cancellation.
More than 400 unissued public transport licenses remain in the Gauteng province. In this regard, Member of the Executive Council (MEC) Kedibone Diala-Tlabla warned public transport operators about the necessity of collecting them before the deadline of August 14.
The Provincial Department of Roads and Transport warned that public transport operators in Gauteng who do not collect their licenses by August 14 may face their cancellation. In such a case, they will have to restart the application process.
The warning particularly concerns minivan and school transport operators who have already submitted applications and received licenses but have not yet collected them. The Department noted that despite significant progress in reducing the backlog and improving internal procedures to speed up permit issuance, over 400 valid licenses remain unclaimed.
Kedibone Diala-Tlabla strongly urged operators not to delay in obtaining their licenses. She stated: 'We urge applicants, especially minivan and school transport operators, to collect their licenses. We encourage them to obtain licenses without delay so they can continue to operate legally and contribute to safer roads across Gauteng.'
The Department reported that operators who received notifications via SMS or through their associations have until the middle of next month to collect the licenses. It emphasized that failure to meet this requirement could lead to the cancellation of the issued license, forcing operators to resume the application process in accordance with applicable legislation.
Diala-Tlabla added that since November 2025, the department has prioritized issuing licenses to qualified public transport operators as part of commitments to reduce the backlog and ensure the legal operation of relevant operators. Over 2000 valid licenses have been transferred to relevant minivan and school transport operators during this period.
She also stressed the department's commitment to strengthening regulatory compliance and improving the efficiency of the public transport system, stating: 'The Department remains committed to contributing to regulatory compliance and facilitating a more efficient, transparent, and responsive public transport system.'
Furthermore, on Friday, another 208 licenses were issued to relevant public transport operators at the Derek Masoeka Regional Office in Johannesburg as part of the backlog reduction program. These licenses are necessary for public transport operators to have legal authorization to provide services, thereby contributing to the creation of a safe, regulated, and sustainable transport sector serving passengers throughout Gauteng.
