Taxi associations have been urged to take greater responsibility for disciplining drivers whose misconduct threatens the reputation, sustainability and business interests of the taxi industry.
South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) Tshwane regional chairperson Sipho Rasepae made the call during the launch of the organisation’s Transport Month campaign on Tuesday, which aims to ease congestion in Pretoria’s CBD by promoting responsible conduct among public transport operators.
The campaign focuses on educating taxi drivers who stop or park indiscriminately, often obstructing traffic and disregarding other road users.
Rasepae said taxi associations needed to address misconduct within their ranks and ensure that drivers maintained professional standards, warning that failure to do so could undermine public confidence in the industry.
“Associations, let us deal with some of our drivers’ issues, especially those involving drivers in Tshwane. The reason for this initiative today is that I do not want to talk about infrastructure, as that is the city’s responsibility. The campaign is about safety awareness.
“Safety awareness also involves making sure our drivers are professional, have professional driving permits (PDPs) and take care of commuters. All associations must make sure that we deal with our drivers,” said Rasepae.
His comments highlight the importance of accountability and professional conduct in protecting the taxi industry’s reputation and ensuring its long-term commercial viability.
Rasepae also called for drivers to be vetted, arguing that operators could not afford to allow individuals to act without regard for the rules governing the industry.
“I do not know; perhaps we need to start vetting our drivers because this is our business, and we should be professional. We cannot allow drivers to do as they please. That cannot be right,” he said.
He warned that the industry’s future depended on operators taking collective responsibility for its management and reputation.
“That is why I am concerned about the taxi industry. We do not understand ourselves, yet we are the biggest industry. This is also the only industry owned by black people, so if we do not take care of it, it will slip through our hands.
“Our descendants, our children and our grandchildren will judge us,” he said.
Meanwhile, although the taxi industry has pledged to co-operate with the government, it remains dissatisfied with its lack of public transport subsidies, arguing that it is the only mode of public transport that does not receive such support.