Progress has been made in efforts to resolve long-disputed taxi violence between two rival taxi associations in Soweto.
Taxi wars between Witwatersrand (WATA) and Nancefield Dube-West Taxi Association (NANDUWE) have in the past turned deadly, claiming the lives of industry bosses and commuters.
The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport confirmed routes agreement and appealed for calm and for parties to avoid a possibility of violent clashes between members of WATA and NANDUWE, who have been engaged in fatal conflict for more than a decade over disputed routes.
This follows a decision by the Gauteng Provincial Regulatory Entity (GPRE) to officially declare that NANDUWE has the right to operate on routes that have been at the centre of dispute with WATA in Soweto and surrounding areas.
The decision was announced by GPRE in a meeting that included the national, provincial, and regional structures of both GNTA and SANTACO held on Thursday, 16 January 2025.
NANDUWE has indicated it will commence with operations on said routes as from Monday, 20 January 2025.
The routes confirmed by GPRE include:
*Mofolo – Kwa Mthethwa Informal Taxi Rank to Jeppe Station Taxi Rank;
*Dube Station Taxi Rank to Jeppe Station Taxi Rank;
*Makhetha Garage (Phefeni) Taxi Rank to Jeppe Station Taxi
Rank and Uncle Tom’s Hall Taxi Rank to Jeppe Station Taxi Rank.
GPRE also reiterated that other associations’ whose minibus taxis pass through these areas do not have a right to “load” and “bind” in areas mentioned above.
This is because it is not their starting (A) points. The decision also means that WATA can only “off-load” but not “load” and “blind” on these specified routes.
Commenting on the decision Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela thanked the maturity demonstrated by all who participated and accepted the decision and called for calm and for the two associations to implement the decision.
“As a competent body on these matters, I am appealing to parties to respect the decision and ensure the safe travels of commuters in these areas. As a provincial government, working with law enforcement agencies, we will do everything in our power to safeguard communities and ensure that normal operations are maintained,” said the MEC.
“We remain committed to working with the industry to find lasting solutions to all challenges facing the taxi industry and restore peace across the public transport sector,” added the MEC.
During the announcement of the decision, the President of SANTACO, Mr. Abner Tsebe, and the Deputy President of NTA, Mr. Piet Mahlangu, who were both part of a two-day meeting held early in December 2024 leading to the decision, unanimously accepted the decision and urged the regional and provincial leaders to work with GPRE in implementing the decision and appealed that “no one must die because of the decision.”.
The department has, however, noted that WATA has indicated the association is consulting with its legal team with the purpose of appealing GPRE’s decision. The decision brings the department a step closer to concluding a long and painful period.
