KEY POINTS
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At least 59 people have been killed in Gauteng since January 2025 due to escalating taxi violence, with recent shootings in Soweto, Doornfontein, and Zonkizizwe adding to the death toll.
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In response to the violence, the Gauteng provincial government, taxi associations, and the South African National Taxi Council have agreed to a ceasefire and mediation talks aimed at resolving disputes over contested routes.
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A dedicated Conflict Resolution Committee will be formed to oversee the implementation of the peace process, with regular progress reports expected by the end of April 2025.
The ongoing wave of taxi violence in Gauteng has claimed the lives of 59 individuals since the start of the year.
The province, which has been grappling with rising tensions among taxi associations, has seen a surge in deadly shootings that often result in innocent lives being lost.
In the latest incident, three men were shot and killed on Monday, 7 April 2025, in Mofolo, Soweto. According to TheCitizen, the assailants fired shots from a grey vehicle at a Toyota Corolla, killing all three victims, who were identified as members of a taxi association.
This latest tragedy adds to the growing list of violent incidents linked to disputes within the taxi industry. Just last month, gunmen targeted a rank in Doornfontein, shooting randomly at passengers and taxi drivers, leaving four people dead and three others injured.
Additionally, on 19 March 2025, three people were killed in another shooting at the Zonkizizwe taxi rank, when assailants in a white BMW opened fire on bystanders. Among the deceased were two taxi drivers.
While the violence continues to escalate, the Gauteng Provincial Government, in collaboration with the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) and the Gauteng National Taxi Alliance (GNTA), has initiated talks to address the situation. On Friday, 10 April 2025, these key stakeholders reached a critical agreement aimed at ending the violence.
Government and taxi industry leaders agree on ceasefire
Led by MEC for Transport and Logistics, Honorable Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, the meeting between the provincial government and taxi industry representatives resulted in a commitment to an immediate ceasefire.
The parties involved have agreed to enter into dialogue with the goal of mediating disputes, particularly over contested routes, which have been a major source of the ongoing violence.
“Key agreements from the meeting include an immediate ceasefire and a commitment to dialogue by all affected taxi associations. They must now engage in mediation talks and submit a progress report to the MEC by 29 April 2025,” said the Portfolio Committee on Community Safety and the Portfolio Committee on Transport & Logistics.
As part of the efforts to maintain peace, a dedicated Conflict Resolution Committee will be established, consisting of affected taxi associations. This committee will operate under the supervision of the MEC to ensure that the process is transparent and accountable. The committees involved have pledged to closely monitor the implementation of these resolutions and conduct follow-up engagements with stakeholders to assess progress.
The government, together with industry leaders, has called on all parties to honor the ceasefire. “We urge taxi associations to honor the ceasefire and engage in good faith. We also encourage commuters and communities to report threats to law enforcement and work together to create a safer, conflict-free transport sector,” said a government representative.
Despite the promises made, many are concerned about the feasibility of a lasting peace in an industry where power struggles and financial interests often lead to violent clashes.
However, this new agreement offers a glimmer of hope for the province, as it seeks to bring an end to the senseless violence that has disrupted public transportation and claimed so many lives.
