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The country’s taxi industry aims to register its own security company and to work in collaboration with the police and the private security sector (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
CRIME

Santaco will form security company to ‘clean up’ crime

The country’s taxi industry aims to register its own security company and to work in collaboration with the police and the private security sector

  • Lyse Comins
5 min read
Snarl: The temporary taxi rank, set up after the Oceans uMhlanga development went up on the former public transport node, is too small and has caused congestion in the area. (Lyse Comins/M&G)
ETHEKWINI MUNICIPALITY

uMhlanga Oceans node property owners in taxi dispute

Local business and property owners say trade and values have plummeted due to taxi traffic congestion caused by the lack of a permanent public transport facility

  • Lyse Comins
9 min read
A recent study commissioned by the global financial services company, Visa, highlighted that although 93% of minibus taxi passengers still use cash, 56% of them would prefer to use a prepaid card if one was available.
CAPE AMALGAMATED TAXI ASSOCIATION

Brave new minibus taxi world: Cashless and taxed

Brave new minibus taxi world: Cashless and taxed

  • Eunice Masson
8 min read
Shunt: With the train service dysfunctional, most carless Capetonians rely on minibus taxis. The taxi industry is in partnerships with local and provincial government but some fear taxis will lose out in the City of Cape Town’s transport plan. Photo: ER Lombard/Gallo Images
CAPE AMALGAMATED TAXI ASSOCIATION

Taxi wars: How does Cape Town’s public transport system actually work?

Twenty-two percent of Capetonians use minibus taxis, but the city’s transport model will reduce this

  • Eunice Masson
7 min read
The country’s taxi industry aims to register its own security company and to work in collaboration with the police and the private security sector (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
ALAN WINDE

Taxi council and Cape Town agree to end eight-day taxi strike

The South African National Taxi Council agreed to release a warning notice of any future strike action at least 36 hours in advance

  • Eunice Masson
3 min read
Disquiet: Law enforcement officers in Nyanga township on day five of the minibus taxi strike that has seen five people killed, vehicles burnt and public services brought to a halt. Photo: Jaco Marais/Gallo Images
ALAN WINDE

Taxi bosses drive havoc in the long ignored countrywide problem

The national transport minister has slammed local by-laws while the police minister has distanced himself from the taxi mayhem that’s playing itself out in the Western Cape

  • Eunice Masson
9 min read
ALAN WINDE

Taxi politics: Santaco, national and local government talks hit deadlock

The national taxi council is seeking legal advice to apply for an urgent interdict for the release of all its impounded vehicles

  • Eunice Masson
2 min read
Transport Minister Sindiswe Chikunga. (@Dotransport/Twitter)
CITY OF CAPE TOWN

UPDATED: City of Cape Town is ‘arrogant’, says transport minister over taxi violence

Sindisiwe Chikunga said that the city’s by-laws contravened national laws

  • Eunice Masson
4 min read
The skeleton of a burned out bus on the N2, near Borcherds Quarry, Cape Town. Photo supplied
CITY OF CAPE TOWN

Two killed, buses and cars torched as Cape Town taxi strike continues

Taxi associations are protesting against the legal impounding of their vehicles

  • Eunice Masson
3 min read
A metro police vehicle was set alight
CITY OF CAPE TOWN

Chaos, violence on major Cape Town roads as taxis go on strike

There have been reports of looting and the setting alight of vehicles since Thursday afternoon

  • Eunice Masson
2 min read
Photo supplied
CITY OF CAPE TOWN

Cape Town tense as taxis and cops clash

The South African National Taxi Council has called an urgent meeting after live rounds were fired in the city centre

  • Eunice Masson
3 min read
DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE

Cape Town taxi body backs EFF shutdown call but won’t take part

The South African National Taxi Council says its members can decide if they want to take part in the national shutdown planned for 20 March

  • Eunice Masson
2 min read
A total of 800 taxis have since May last year participated in the Blue Dot scheme, which required them to fulfil requirements for vehicle branding, tax compliance and driver behaviour. Photo: Supplied
BLUE DOT PILOT PROGRAMME

Funding dries up for popular Western Cape Blue Dot taxi service

The programme attempted to formalise the notorious transport sector by requiring tax compliance and good driver behaviour, but it is set to end on 30 November

  • Eunice Masson
8 min read
Commuters using minibus taxis will not see tariff increases just yet as taxi associations refrain from fare increases despite rising fuel costs.
CAPE AMALGAMATED TAXI ASSOCIATION

Route closure may be extended as talks between Western Cape taxi groups stall

The reopening of Route B97 without an agreement may result in a flood of illegal taxi operators and reignite taxi violence

  • Eunice Masson
3 min read
The demonstration, organised by two taxi associations, Codeta and Cata, blocked several arterial roads into the city’s central business district on Thursday morning. (Getty Images)
CAPE AMALGAMATED TAXI ASSOCIATION

Cars stoned, residents injured as Cape Town taxi protest turns violent

The demonstration, organised by two taxi associations, Codeta and Cata, blocked several arterial roads into the city’s central business district on Thursday morning

  • Eunice Masson
3 min read
Standstill: The ongoing taxi war has put a strain on transport, leaving commuters waiting for hours in Cape Town’s city centre. (David Harrison/M&G)
CAPE AMALGAMATED TAXI ASSOCIATION

Taxi violence: Fight for survival in Cape Town’s dangerous turf war

The flare-up of the taxi war in the Western Cape has again shown the industry’s ability to hold commuters, the state and the local economy to ransom

  • Eunice Masson
7 min read
Public transport in Cape Town and its surrounds has stabilised somewhat following two weeks of disruption due to ongoing conflict over routes between two rival taxi associations.
CAPE AMALGAMATED TAXI ASSOCIATION

Cape Town transport stabilised after two weeks of taxi violence

But despite the calm, rival taxi associations have not yet made peace in their turf war

  • Eunice Masson
3 min read
File photo
CAPE AMALGAMATED TAXI ASSOCIATION

Taxi associations in impasse over dispute

Western Cape government cuts off its Blue Dot incentive payments to Cata and Codeta and financial support agreement with Santaco

  • Eunice Masson
4 min read
Commuters using minibus taxis will not see tariff increases just yet as taxi associations refrain from fare increases despite rising fuel costs.
BONGINKOSI MADIKIZELA

Scores die in Western Cape’s deadly taxi tit-for-tat

Forty-three people were shot dead in the first six months of this year in the Western Cape’s intractable taxi violence, while close to 100 have been arrested and 40 are on court…

  • Lester Kiewit
3 min read
‘Sufficient police visibility’ planned in the suburbs of Maitland and Ndabeni. (Paul Botes/M&G)
COVID 19

‘I get nothing at the end of the day’

The taxi industry is the backbone of South Africa’s public transport system. But its drivers, at the mercy of their bosses and government, are struggling to survive the new…

  • Sarah Smit
7 min read