• MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela says no more lives will be lost as the taxi war continues to claim victims.

• She says the conflict is about criminal activity, not routes, and action will be taken.

Gauteng MEC for roads and transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela says the government will shut down taxi ranks involved in ongoing violence and cancel the associations’ operating licences.

She made the announcement at Uncle Toms Hall in Orlando West, Soweto, during a prayer session with women in the taxi industry and religious groups.

Her message follows the latest bloody battles between the Witwatersrand African Taxi Association (Wata) and Nancefield-Dube West Taxi Association (Nanduwe), which have left 59 people dead since January.

“Not a single arrest has been made,” she said. “I haven’t even seen a case number.”

Diale-Tlabela said the problem is not about disputed taxi routes — it’s about criminality.

“People are anonymously contacting me and saying they’re being extorted by associations. They don’t even know what they’re working for anymore,” she said.

But Gauteng National Taxi Alliance representative Lorraine Sefuba said the plan to shut down the ranks could backfire.

She believes checking which association was originally granted the routes would solve the long-standing conflict.

“As women in this industry, we’re tired of counting bodies instead of money. We’re tired of seeing orphans and widows who can’t put food on the table,” said Sefuba.

The department is now talking to stakeholders to organise temporary transport for affected commuters.

“This war has been going on since I was in primary school,” said Diale-Tlabela. “If you ask me, the only solution is to dissolve both associations and start fresh with one joint body.”

Pictured above: The prayer meeting.

Image source: Palesa Matlala