The Gauteng Taxi Alliance Chairperson, shot dead in Soweto, has sent shockwaves through South Africa’s taxi industry. On Thursday, 18 September 2025, Thami (Thamsanqa) Moyo, the Gauteng Chairperson of the National Taxi Alliance (NTA), was gunned down in a suspected assassination.
Moyo, 58, was travelling on the Soweto Highway near Diepkloof when two vehicles intercepted his Toyota Hilux. Gunmen opened fire multiple times, leaving him fatally wounded at the scene. Police have since launched a manhunt for the suspects.
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Gauteng Taxi Alliance Chairperson Shot Dead: Police Confirm Murder Investigation
According to Gauteng police spokesperson Lt-Col Mavela Masondo, authorities are treating the case as a priority murder investigation.
“We cannot confirm that it’s related to taxi violence. But we suspect it is, taking into account that the victim is the chairperson of a taxi association,” Masondo said .
Police urged the public to come forward with information, adding that anonymous tips could be submitted via the MySAPS App or the Crime Stop hotline (08600 10111).
Taxi Industry Spokesperson Confirms Assassination
The National Taxi Alliance spokesperson, Theo Malele, confirmed Moyo’s killing to the media.
“We can confirm that there has been an assassination but the motive behind this is unknown. It’s still under investigation,” Malele said.
Although the motive has not been officially established, industry insiders believe it is linked to ongoing disputes over routes and power struggles within the sector.
Gauteng’s Taxi Violence Crisis
This latest killing adds to the grim toll of taxi-related violence in the province. Earlier this year, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi revealed that 59 people had been killed in taxi-related incidents by April 2025.
In March alone, 30 lives were lost to shootings linked to disputes between rival taxi associations (Citizen.co.za).
Despite government-led ceasefire talks between the National Taxi Alliance (NTA) and the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO), violence has continued to plague the industry.
Impact on Communities and Commuters
Taxi violence not only affects association leaders and operators; ordinary South Africans feel its impact daily. When leaders are assassinated, it often sparks retaliatory attacks that disrupt taxi services.
Soweto commuters now fear reduced services, sudden fare hikes, and unsafe routes. The situation creates uncertainty for the thousands who depend on taxis as their main mode of transport.
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Government Response and Challenges
The Gauteng Provincial Government has repeatedly pledged to clamp down on taxi-related violence. The Gauteng Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety recently called for stronger accountability and detailed progress reports from police.
Premier Lesufi has also demanded greater law enforcement intervention:
“We need to demonstrate to them who’s the boss in this country. Our law enforcement agencies are the bosses and only need firepower to tackle this matter,” he said earlier this year .
However, despite these strong statements, little progress has been made in curbing violent outbreaks.
Calls for Reform in the Taxi Sector
Experts argue that lasting solutions require structural reforms in the taxi industry. Root causes include:
- Disputes over routes and unverified registrations
- Weak regulation and oversight
- Criminal infiltration of associations
Industry leaders like Lorraine Sifuba of the NTA have previously criticised government proposals to shut taxi ranks, urging more effective enforcement instead.
The Road Ahead
The assassination of Gauteng Taxi Alliance Chairperson Thami Moyo marks a chilling escalation in the province’s taxi violence. It highlights both the fragility of government-brokered truces and the high stakes involved in the multi-billion-rand taxi industry.
As investigations continue, the spotlight remains on how police, government, and industry stakeholders will respond to prevent further bloodshed. For now, Soweto mourns yet another victim of a crisis that shows no sign of slowing.
