‘A national affordability crisis’: National Taxi Alliance threatens protests
The alliance says it is being crushed by unaffordable operating costs.
The National Taxi Alliance (NTA) has issued a warning of potential protests if Transport Minister Barbara Creecy fails to address their concerns within two weeks. The group contends that soaring costs make running minibus taxis unaffordable, including fuel, vehicle finance, maintenance, tyres, insurance, and regulatory compliance.
Theo Malele, NTA spokesperson, emphasized that operators cannot pass these expenses to passengers, as it would disrupt commuters' access to work, education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. He described the situation as a "taxi industry crisis" and a "national mobility and household affordability crisis."
The NTA has requested the government to provide a targeted fuel rebate for eligible minibus taxi operators for at least a year, while broader public-transport reforms are being finalized. This relief must be administered properly, audited, and linked to licensed public passenger operations. Malele argued that administrative inconveniences are not valid reasons to let a crucial transport industry struggle, and a temporary fuel rebate would protect both operators and commuters, reducing immediate operating pressures and limiting fare increases that many households cannot bear.
Tackling minibus financing, Malele noted that finance rates for operators range from 12% to 15.5%, often with repayment periods of 74 or 80 months. While these terms may seem lower on paper, they prolong debt and may leave operators paying for vehicles that become unsafe, costly, and inefficient to operate. He called for transparency, affordable finance, genuine de-risking mechanisms, fair loan structures, and repayment periods that align with a taxi's safe and economical operating life.
Malele demanded a written response and a clear implementation plan from Creecy to address the taxi industry's needs and demands.
Creecy has previously stated her commitment to collaborating with the industry to lower vehicle repayment costs; however, Malele criticized her for merely making promises without providing budgets or deadlines. He warned that if the government delays action, the NTA will initiate consultations and mobilize for a lawful national protest march to deliver a memorandum of grievances, asserting that South Africa's taxi operators and commuters cannot afford the current situation.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
