Western Cape targets rogue taxi drivers with new registration drive

Cape Town road users fed up with lawless taxi behaviour could soon see changes, as the Western Cape government rolls out a province-wide taxi driver registration drive aimed at accountability and safety.

The Department of Mobility says more than 500 taxi drivers were registered within hours during a pilot in Mitchells Plain, signalling early uptake from the industry.

Focus shifts to drivers

MEC for Mobility Isaac Sileku said the intervention targets a long-standing gap in the taxi industry: the lack of oversight over drivers.

“We have always focused on the operator, and no one has actually looked at the driver,” he said.

The registration process aims to verify who is driving taxis, whether they have valid licences and professional driving permits (PrDP), and whether they are legally allowed to be on the road.

Officials also want to link drivers directly to operators to improve accountability.

“If we really want to deal with driver behaviour, we need to put in measures,” Sileku said.

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Authorities say that the current system allows widespread non-compliance.

Drivers often rent taxis for the day, prioritising profit targets. If a regular driver is unavailable, operators may allow anyone with, or even without, proper documentation to take over.

During the Mitchells Plain pilot, officials encountered drivers operating without licences.

“It was unfortunate; someone who doesn’t even have a driver’s licence has been driving for 13 years,” Sileku said.

The province is now considering tightening operating licence conditions to enforce compliance.

Safety and accountability push

The registration drive forms part of a broader plan to professionalise the taxi industry and improve commuter safety.

The province also plans to track taxis on routes and potentially introduce incentives for safer driving, building on elements of the earlier Blue Dot programme.

Sileku said the long-term goal is to move away from a system where drivers chase daily income targets.

“I’m not going to chase targets; I’m not going to chase money. There will be a guaranteed income for a particular driver,” he said.

“That’s the only way that one can actually make sure that our commuters are safe.”

Easter road warning after fatal crash

The announcement comes as authorities warn of increased road risks ahead of the Easter period.

Sileku confirmed that five people died in a crash on the R45 on Sunday.

“I would really want to urge people to be really cautious on our roads,” he said.

Motorists have been warned against speeding and unsafe overtaking, with pedestrians also urged to remain vigilant.

For more information, listen to Sileku on CapeTalk’s Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit using the audio player below: