Santaco KZN Distances Itself from Allegations of Forcing Passengers into Taxis
Santaco KZN distances itself from allegations of forcing passengers into taxis, calling the claims completely false and urging the public not to spread unverified information that could cause panic. [8] This comes after social media posts went viral, accusing taxi operators of stopping private vehicles, pulling out extra passengers, and threatening to damage or burn cars if drivers carried more than one person, even if they were family or friends. [7] Provincial MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma has also spoken out, saying such actions are against the law and no one has the right to force people out of their own cars. [5]
Background to the Viral Claims About Taxi Enforcement on Private Cars
The taxi industry in South Africa has long been a key part of daily life, moving millions of people every day and turning over billions of rands each year. [15] But it often faces criticism for violence, route fights, and clashes with other transport like e-hailing services or private lifts. [19] In KwaZulu-Natal, where minibus taxis are a main way to get around, tensions sometimes boil over, leading to road blocks or attacks on rival operators. [15] Recent months have seen more reports of trouble, like in Soweto where e-hailing drivers were targeted at Maponya Mall, with one killed and others hurt in attacks linked to taxi groups. [11] Similar issues popped up in Tembisa and the Eastern Cape, where drivers claimed taxis stopped them and forced family members out, saying private cars could not carry extra people without using taxis. [13]
These latest claims started spreading fast on social media over the weekend of 16-17 August 2025, with videos and stories showing taxis pulling over cars and telling drivers to offload passengers. [9] One post described a driver in Tembisa being forced to drop off a family member or face a beating, with metro police stepping in later. [13] Another from the Eastern Cape said taxis were making people walk or take taxis instead of riding with friends or family. [13] Posts warned that it did not matter if the extra passengers were kids, colleagues, or relatives – the rule was one person per car, or risk damage like smashing windows or setting the vehicle on fire. [9] Some shared tips like calling vehicle trackers if a car got impounded, to report it stolen and get help. [13]
This is not the first time such stories have come up. [18] Back in May 2025, Santaco had to deny similar talk of taxis impounding private cars and asking for money, saying those acts were not from them and went against the law. [18] In December 2024, the council spoke out against a patroller in Mpumalanga who was caught on video mistreating a truck driver, stressing their campaign for respect on the roads. [16] These events show a pattern where some operators take matters into their own hands, leading to fear and anger among drivers who just want to go about their day. [11]
Details of the Social Media Posts and Alleged Incidents
The posts that sparked the uproar painted a scary picture of taxis acting like police on the roads. One widely shared message said: “it does not matter whether the passengers are your children, family, friends or colleagues – if spotted with more than one passenger, drivers threaten to damage the car, crash it or even set it alight.” Videos showed groups of men stopping cars, arguing with drivers, and sometimes forcing people out. In one clip from Tembisa, a driver was told to drop off a family member or get beaten, with the post calling taxi associations a problem for motorists.
Another from the Eastern Cape claimed taxis were stopping private cars and making passengers walk or use taxis, with the message: “You are not allowed to travel with more than one passenger, even if they are your friends or family.” A third warned that taxis were saying South Africans could not have more than one passenger in their cars, no matter who they were, and might damage or destroy the vehicle if caught. These stories spread quickly, with people sharing tips on how to fight back, like reporting cars as stolen if taken or calling for stronger action from police.
While some posts linked it to Santaco, others pointed to local associations acting on their own, like in Soweto where taxis clashed with e-hailing at malls, leading to violence and calls for government to step in. The claims also touched on school runs, with reports of parents and teachers being stopped from taking kids in private cars.
Santaco KZN’s Full Response and Statement on the Matter
Santaco KZN was quick to set the record straight, saying the claims were made up and had no truth to them. In their statement, they said: “We categorically state that these claims are completely false and have no basis. Santaco is not a law enforcement agency and does not have the authority to impose or enforce regulations on private vehicles or motorists.” They explained their job is to look after taxi groups like minibus, metered, and school transport operators, as set out in the 2020 National Taxi Lekgotla.
The council added: “Our role is to promote a safe, reliable, and regulated public transport service within the framework of the South African Constitution and applicable legislation. We urge members of the public to refrain from spreading or believing unverified information, particularly on social media, as it may incite unnecessary panic and confusion. SANTACO remains committed to operating transparently and lawfully, in the interest of all transport users and stakeholders.” They also said they did not know about such actions in other provinces and condemned any violence or harassment.
National Santaco echoed this, saying they never told anyone not to use private cars or carry family, and called the reports false and misleading. Spokesperson Mmatshikhidi Rebecca Phala stressed that taxi rides are a choice, and only police can enforce road rules. She urged people to report any bad acts to the cops and asked media to check facts before sharing.
MEC Siboniso Duma’s Stance and Government Response
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma backed Santaco’s words, making it clear that stopping cars, pulling out passengers, and forcing them to use taxis breaks the law. He said no one, including taxi operators, has the right to do that, and law enforcement would deal with any such cases. Duma’s department has met with Santaco before on route fights and illegal ops, promising to work together for peace in the industry.
He commended Santaco for handling past disputes well and stressed the need to protect honest operators from criminals using the taxi world for bad deeds. The MEC plans regular talks with the council to keep things stable, noting how many people rely on taxis and the big money involved.
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