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The Eastern Cape Transport and Community Safety MEC, Xolile Nqatha, has urged the taxi industry to disband the executive structure of the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) and its relevant structures within seven days.
This follows recommendations from the Taxi Mediation Panel, which met in East London last month to address the industry's ongoing violence. Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane appointed the panel to quell the escalating conflict in the taxi sector.
At that meeting, MEC Nqatha outlined the panel’s resolutions, which included dissolving current structures and forming an inclusive interim body ahead of the elective conference.
The MEC also called for the dissolution of Uncedo, the EC Taxi Association, Actor, and Border Alliance, citing non-compliance with operating license procedures within the department.
SANTACO Eastern Cape chairperson, Zola Yolelo, welcomed and supported the MEC’s decision.
“This will be the first democratisation of the taxi industry in the Eastern Cape without any intimidation, fear, or favour,” he said.
Yolelo added that SANTACO’s provincial office was awaiting the national office to appoint an interim structure as recommended by the Department of Transport (DOT). He noted that guidelines from the national office would soon be tabled with the DOT and provincial SANTACO members.
He assured that "the structures of the council, starting from the local level - the association, local, regional, and provincial councils, including the SANTACO leagues - would be dissolved, and we will start afresh."
MEC Nqatha warned that if the recommendations were not implemented, the department would consider legal action, including withdrawing recognition of SANTACO’s executive structures and terminating the Memorandum of Agreement with the council.
