Minibus taxis line a major roadway during a transport sector demonstration in Cape Town, South Africa. Photo: File/NNA News

NNA News – Taxi operators in Ekurhuleni say they’re being arrested and having vehicles impounded, even after applying for permits. Delays in Gauteng’s licensing system are forcing drivers to choose between operating without papers or parking their taxis and losing their income. Tensions boiled over on Wednesday in Germiston, when members of the Greater Germiston Taxi Association confronted the Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, about permit backlogs, heavy enforcement, and ageing fleets. The meeting is part of a provincial roadshow meant to clear disputes and improve engagement with the sector.

Operators say Gauteng isn’t alone. From Nairobi to Lagos to Johannesburg, taxi drivers across Africa are stuck in the same bottleneck: too many applications, outdated systems, and not enough staff. In Ekurhuleni, they argue, taxi drivers need a valid permit to work legally, but the system isn’t issuing them fast enough.

According to Sakhile Mkhize, spokesperson for the Greater Germiston Taxi Association, the problem with provincial traffic authorities is getting worse. “We have a problem here. Every single week, we’re getting arrested. We have asked the government to give us permits, and we are not getting those permits,” Mkhize told reporters. He added that ageing vehicles and safety incidents at ranks are leaving drivers feeling abandoned by the government.

Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela (centre) engages with representatives of the taxi industry during a stakeholder meeting in Germiston, Ekurhuleni, on 10 June 2026. Photo: Luyanda Danca/NNA News

Women in the industry say the pressure is worse for them. Taxi owner Busi Dlamini said renewal delays still leave drivers exposed to impoundments, even when they’ve submitted applications and receipts. “It’s not easy, especially for us women, because we have to learn very quickly to run the business, even though there are so many challenges,” Dlamini stressed. She added, “Sometimes you go to renew, but you don’t get it on time because the system is down. And the worst part is, our cars get impounded even with the receipt.”

The complaints come as tensions rise again in Gauteng over permit disputes, route conflicts, and heavy enforcement which, some operators say, is tearing the sector apart. Responding, Diale-Tlabela said the department has made progress and started a two-month push to clear the backlog. “The issue of permits is now resolved, and that is why you see us conducting these roadshows, wanting to engage directly with the operators themselves,” she said.

Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela (centre) engages with representatives of the taxi industry during a stakeholder meeting in Germiston, Ekurhuleni, on 10 June 2026. Photo: Luyanda Danca/NNA News

The MEC pointed to membership verification inside taxi associations as a major hold-up in processing licences. “Ekurhuleni was chosen to launch the roadshows because of its history of route disputes and conflict. The department is also pushing operators to adopt technology and address issues such as bullying and industry transformation,” she explained.“ "We also want to see how they adapt to changing circumstances. They are starting to use technology to modernise their operations,” she added.

Diale-Tlabela went on to urge operators to lift service standards amid ongoing commuter complaints."We need to make sure that operators provide a quality service and ensure that commuters are satisfied,” she said. The department says roadshows will continue across Gauteng in the coming weeks as it works with the industry to clear backlogs, reduce conflict, and improve service for commuters.