The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) has appealed to South Africans to keep the taxi industry in their prayers as it faces growing infiltration by criminal elements. Speaking at a media briefing in Johannesburg on Tuesday, Santaco president Motlhabane Tsebe condemned the recent violence linked to the sector, including the killing of a 27-year-old e-hailing driver at Maponya Mall last week.

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According to reports, four unidentified men were behind the brutal attack, which left the e-hailing driver dead, his vehicle set alight, and two others injured. While fingers have been pointed at the taxi industry, Tsebe stressed that these acts were not representative of legitimate operators but rather the handiwork of criminals exploiting the sector.

“We must acknowledge that this criminality is being committed in our name. We humbly ask for prayers as we deal with the infiltration of criminals while cleaning up the industry,” he said.

Zero Tolerance for Violence

Tsebe reaffirmed Santaco’s stance against lawlessness, saying that anyone within the taxi industry found guilty of violence would face immediate expulsion.

“Santaco has a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of violence. Any operator, driver or association member implicated in such acts will be removed from our ranks without hesitation. This is not lip service it is a commitment to say enough is enough,” he declared.

He urged communities to report law-breaking taxi operators to the police, emphasizing that “violence is crime, and crime has no place in the taxi industry or South African society.”

Support for the Victim’s Family

In a gesture of solidarity, Santaco pledged to assist with funeral arrangements for the slain e-hailing driver. Tsebe confirmed that the organisation would cover the undertaker’s costs and had approached the family for permission to transport the body from Gauteng to KwaZulu-Natal for burial.

“I sent my team to speak to the family, to ask for their blessing to take the body home and give him a dignified burial,” Tsebe said.

Call for Prayer and Healing

Beyond addressing criminality, Santaco is turning to faith-based solutions. Tsebe revealed that a day of prayer will be held at Maponya Mall following the funeral. The council has already engaged with Soweto ministries to lead the initiative.

“We need divine intervention. After supporting the family and visiting the survivors still in hospital, we will gather at Maponya Mall for a day of prayer,” Tsebe explained.

Reform and Modernisation

The controversy and public outcry come at a sensitive time for the industry, as Santaco prepares to pilot a new cashless payment system for taxi rides. Tsebe noted that the criminal infiltration threatens to overshadow efforts to modernise and improve the sector’s image.

“Our industry is at a crossroads. While we move towards innovation and reform, we must also protect our reputation from being destroyed by those using taxis as a cover for crime,” he said.