Santaco denies reports of enforcing limits on private vehicle use
The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) has denied claims that it allegedly instructed South Africans not to use private vehicles or carry their families, labelling the reports 'false and misleading.'
This comes after reports of pictures and videos emerged on social media alleging that Santaco members were allegedly calling on the public that they were not allowed to have more than one passenger in their cars.
The taxi operators were alleging id did not matter if people were with their children, family, friends, or colleagues, they would damage, crash or even burn the car in public.
Fake news
Santaco spokesperson Mmatshikhidi Rebecca Phala said it had taken note with concern about the posts being circulated on social media platforms.
'We wish to place it on record that Santaco has never issued such a communication and has never imposed any mode of transport on the public. Any individual making such claims is not, and has never been, speaking on behalf of the council.'
Tembisa Taxi association members continues being a problem to many motorists.
Here the driver was pulled over then forced to offload his family member whom he picked up , He was told that failure to do that he will be seriously beaten.
City of Ekurhuleni metro cop arrived on… pic.twitter.com/gvR8RZpaW6
August 16, 2025
ALSO READ: One dead, two injured after e-hailing vehicles torched at Maponya Mall [VIDEO]
Acts condemned
Phala said the council strongly condemns these acts in the strongest terms.
'Like all other paid-for transport services, taxi operations are voluntary and remain a choice available to commuters. For clarity, only law enforcement authorities hold the legal mandate to enforce regulations relating to transport in South Africa.
'We encourage members of the public to report any incidents of harassment or unlawful enforcement directly to law enforcement agencies,' Phala said.
Taxi drivers are bullies 🚮 pic.twitter.com/xMIpCGnGqL — Thendo Ralph (@ThendoRalph) August 17, 2025
Santaco KZN
Santaco KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) also denounced the 'misleading information on private vehicle passenger restriction.'
'Santaco is not a law enforcement agency and does not have authority to impose or enforce regulations on private vehicles or motorists.
'Santaco is a recognised structure, as affirmed by the 2020 National Taxi Lekgotla, mandated to oversee and coordinate affiliated taxi structures. These include mini bus taxis, metered taxis and independent scholar transport operators. Our role is to promote a safe, reliable and regulated public transport service within the framework of the South African constitution and applicable legislation,' it said.
We called the Transport MEC & the Chairperson of the Community Safety Committee.
They assured us that law enforcement is on the scene & will intervene in the taxi/e-hailing matter at Maponya Mall.
But this issue is neither new nor isolated! Where is the authority of the state? pic.twitter.com/ArZpRr3zZp — Ayanda Allie MPL (@AyandaAllie) August 14, 2025
Last week, an e-hailing driver was killed and two others were injured after e-hailing vehicles were attacked by unknown suspects at Maponya Mall in Pimville, Soweto, south of Johannesburg.
ALSO READ: Uber stresses safety as 'top priority' amid concerns over driver profiles for sale [VIDEO]
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