Gauteng transport department says unroadworthy taxis are compromising public safety

Johannesburg
Ntokozo Khumalo

Ntokozo Khumalo

12 January 2026 | 15:20

From vehicles held together with makeshift door locks to smoke-belching engines and reckless driving, commuters fear that this has become a routine part of getting to work and back home.

Gauteng transport department says unroadworthy taxis are compromising public safety

Inside one of the taxis impounded by JMPD. Image: City of Joburg

Taxis are the backbone of South Africa’s public transport system, but there are growing concerns over vehicle safety that is putting commuters’ lives at risk.
From vehicles held together with makeshift door locks to smoke-belching engines and reckless driving, commuters fear that this has become a routine part of getting to work and back home.
According to the Gauteng Department of Transport, 70% of people in the province rely on minibus taxis as their primary mode of transport.
The provincial Department told EWN that removing unroadworthy taxis remains an ongoing challenge.
According to department spokesperson Lesiba Mpya, the task is made more difficult by an imbalance between the number of vehicles on the road and the capacity oflaw enforcement.
“We must acknowledge that the ratio, when compared to law enforcement boots on the ground, presents a disparity. However, we are winning the war against unroadworthy vehicles that are not supposed to be on Gauteng's roads, vehicles commonly referred to as ‘coffin vehicles’.”
A commuter shared with EWN that when they get into a taxi, they pray and hope they will get home safely.
“When I am sitting by the door, I hold on for dear life because I am scared the door might just open," said, Qonda Madikane.
The South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) has also raised concerns about written-off vehicles returning to service.
SANTACO spokesperson Mmatshikidi Rebecca Phala said that there are serious loopholes in the road worthiness certification process.
“Sometimes a vehicle is identified as unroadworthy, yet you later find it operating on the road with a road worthiness certificate. This indicates that there are loopholes within the institutions responsible for issuing these certificates.”
Phala added that government initiatives aimed at improving taxi safety have not gained sufficient traction.
Under the Taxi Recapitalisation Programme, operators receive a R150,000 subsidy to purchase a new vehicle in exchange for scrapping old ones. However, uptake remains low.
“The programme does not have a high uptake for various reasons, including the fact that the subsidy amount does not adequately meet the financial demands of purchasing a new vehicle suitable for taxi operations,”Phala said.
She added that there have been ongoing calls for the government to revise the programme.
Meanwhile, Mpya acknowledged that removing unsafe taxis from the roads is a gradual process but insisted progress is being made.
“We would want this process to move faster to fully meet commuter expectations. However, commuters are beginning to acknowledge that action is being taken. While progress may be gradual, we believe we are winning this particular battle.”
@staceyt20 Taxi’s are going to be the end of us shame 🤌🏾🤣. #parktowntaxis #publictransportproblems #siyaperisha #taxis #fyp #joburgtaxis ♬ original sound - Sandisiwe Mathamo
@jahmanthembalawo #jahmanthembalawo ♬ original sound - Jahman
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