Gauteng taxi licence row deepens as operators and MEC trade blame

A dispute is brewing between Gauteng's taxi industry and Roads and Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela. Taxi organisations SANTACO and the National Taxi Alliance accuse the MEC of delaying the release of operating licences, saying the hold-ups are hurting operators and disrupting business. The department rejects the claims, insisting more than 400 licences are ready for collection and warning operators who fail to collect them by 14 August could have their licences cancelled and be forced to restart the application process. Phemelo unpacked the standoff with SANTACO Gauteng Chairperson Midday Mali and Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela.