Sipho Tshabalala
Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela has promised to work with the Gauteng Taxi Industry (GTI) to formalise and grow the sector and pursue various opportunities in the broader taxi and transport economy.
She was addressing the Gauteng National Taxi Alliance (GNTA) elective conference held in Johannesburg on Wednesday, 28 August 2024.
GNTA is a Gauteng-leg of the National Taxi Alliance, a South African body of affiliated independent national, provincial, regional and primary taxi associations.
The MEC stressed the need to rid the sector of conflict and violence as these have reflected negatively on the industry. "Violence reflects badly on this industry and we reiterate our call to members and leaders of both GNTA and SANTACO to continue to support all efforts to end taxi violence".
She added the Provincial Government was "committed to do everything in our powers to protect, innovate, and grow a sustainable public transport in our province and our priority is peace and stability in all modes of public transport including the minibus, metered, and e-hailing taxis".
"Our message to this august conference is that taxi violence is everyone's responsibility".
MEC also urged the taxi industry to pursue opportunities available and contribute to the creation of much-needed job opportunities. "My appeal is that you must explore the business value chain of the industry and you cannot do that without documenting your own experiences without stopping others to do the same".  She further urged the industry to see itself "as a dynamic business that must move with the times".
Taxi industry leaders also praised the professional and cordial working relationship they have with the Department. This included unfettered access to top management and officials to discuss and attend to issues affecting the industry.
They also indicated that "SANTACO (GP) and GNTA are united in diversity, we have a spark that ignites change and a drive that propels our collective strength". They further indicated the unity in Gauteng 'have set a precedent for the whole country".
The MEC further highlighted the importance of the taxi industry in the broader provincial transport plans. "Our discussion about an integrated, affordable, reliable, safer, transformed, and modernized public transport is incomplete without the meaningful contributions of the taxi industry". 
She went on to thank the taxi industry leadership for its continued support and partnership as work towards the transformation of the sector continues. She hoped the partnership will continue to grow and bear positive fruits that will be mutually beneficial to all involved.