The KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Transport Department held a meeting with the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) and law enforcement officials yesterday to discuss and find lasting solutions to the ongoing disputes over taxi routes.

This comes after illegal taxi operators blocked a road in Mayiwane, Ulundi, on Monday morning, and blockaded the R34 in Empangeni Mill, on Tuesday morning. The road in Empangeni was later re-opened following intervention by law enforcement agencies and the department.

KZN Transport and Human Settlements MEC, Siboniso Duma, commended the consistent and bold leadership displayed by SANTACO regarding the management of a dispute over the Nkonjeni route and illegal taxi operations in the region.

The MEC has received a briefing from the Head of the Department, Siboniso Mbhele, and the team regarding the disputes over the taxi routes, dating back to over two years.

“The department’s interventions and enforcement of the law will be intensified to ensure stability,” Mr Duma said.

“This meeting will not only ensure that a long-lasting solution is reached, but will also mark the beginning of a new chapter for the benefit of local commuters who rely on public transport.”

He also commended law enforcement agencies and municipalities that are working closely with the department to ensure compliance with the laws and the by-laws.

“The safety of commuters and the public at large is our priority. In particular, as a department, we have a responsibility to protect the businesses of honest taxi operators from illegal taxi operators and other criminals who use the taxi industry to achieve their objectives,” Mr Duma said.

“Having assumed my new responsibilities in the department, we will have standing meetings with SANTACO. This is an important stakeholder, as it represents more than 246 associations and 16 regions.”

He added that SANTACO is responsible for the socio-economic well-being of the province.

Mr Duma said across South Africa, statistics show that the number of people using taxi services each day is more than 15 million, with an annual turnover of more than R40 billion.

In addition, taxi operators spend more than R15 billion on fuel and more than R10 billion on vehicles, as well as more than R150 million buying tyres annually, Mr Duma said.

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Transport department and Santaco discuss solutions to ongoing taxi route disputes