The Greater
Germiston and Zonkizizwe Taxi Associations, in the City of Ekurhuleni, have
signed a landmark agreement committing to end ongoing tensions between the two associations
following months of unrest.
As both associations
operate on the route between Germiston and Zonkizizwe, they have agreed to
operate on a 50/50 basis and work together to end violence that has plagued the
area over the past months. 
MEC for
Public Transport and Roads Infrastructure Jacob Mamabolo has acted as a mediator
over the past two months. The peace pact was finally brokered in Johannesburg on
18 December 2019.
The parties
committed to cease hostilities and establish a joint monitoring team to
evaluate and intervene swiftly in ensuring the agreement is implemented. They
also agreed that parties will report disputes to South African National Taxi
Council (SANTACO) and Gauteng National Taxi Alliance (GNTA) provincial
leadership and only escalate issues to the MEC as a last resort.
Expressing his
gratitude after the agreement was signed, the MEC said “I sincerely thank the
two associations and the leadership of both their mother bodies, the GNTA and
the SANTACO, for helping us in facilitating a conversation amongst the two
associations. We have avoided a lot of bloodshed with the signing of this
agreement”.
The disagreement
stems from sharing certain routes, with each accusing the other of picking up
passengers in areas where their operating licences do not allow and thus
encroaching on others’ routes.
MEC Mamabolo also
thanked both the associations for not engaging in violence during the period of
negotiations. “Their leadership shows that the taxi industry can resolve most
of its problems by sitting around the table and talking. Violence is never the
answer”.