Santaco 'surprised' by tensions between taxis and e-hailing operators

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The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) continues to deny claims that it has instructed taxi operators to block private vehicle owners from transporting passengers. 

Commuters in Soweto say they face bullying by taxi drivers who are angry that e-hailing services are operating on their 'turf'.

Last week, an e-hailing driver was shot dead and his vehicle set alight outside Maponya Mall.

But Santaco's Graham Fritz says the current flare-up of tensions between the taxi industry and e-hailing operators comes as a 'big surprise'.

ALSO READ: Taxi industry vows crackdown on violence amid tensions with e-hailing services

"According to our agreements, there shouldn't be any tiff between e-hailers and the taxi industry."

- Graham Fritz, Gauteng Secretary - Santaco

But Melithemba Mguni of the E-hailing Partners Council says the agreements are not being adhered to.

"The reality is, I can give you a list of places where e-hailers are not allowed to operate."

- Melithemba Mguni, Secretary-General - E-Hailing Partners Council

He says the agreement to allocate specific zones for e-hailing services has not been followed.

"They are denied access to those areas..."

- Melithemba Mguni, Secretary-General - E-Hailing Partners Council

The Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, has promised to resolve tensions between e-hailing drivers and taxi operators.

The Department's spokesperson, Lesiba Mpya, says there shouldn't be any no-go areas for e-hailing operators.

He also admits that agreements between Santaco and e-hailing groups are often not upheld in practice.

"The cordial relationship we have with the stakeholders [at provincial level]... might not translate into the same harmony to the ground situation."

- Lesiba Mpya, Spokesperson - Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport

"Much as we say there shouldn't be no-go areas, the public is feeling the wrath of it."

- Lesiba Mpya, Spokesperson - Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport

Scroll up to listen to the full conversation from The Clement Manyathela Show.

ALSO READ: 'This is criminality' - Santaco denies instructing taxi drivers to block private cars