Abnar Tsebe, president of the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco), has issued an apology to commuters following an incident in Mpumalanga. A motorist was allegedly forced to surrender his car and pay a R2,500 fine after giving a neighbor a lift on the N4. Speaking at Santaco’s Limpopo Gala Dinner on November 6 in Polokwane, Tsebe expressed regret and pledged to address commuters’ concerns. He underscored Santaco’s commitment to ensuring accountability and better service.
Tsebe urged South Africans to avoid hitchhiking due to safety risks, especially for women and children vulnerable to dangers like human trafficking. He emphasized Santaco’s dedication to providing safe, reliable public transportation options. “We want to correct this behavior and ensure we are listening to our people,” he stated. Santaco, he added, is determined to protect its passengers and maintain trust within communities.
Limpopo Transport and Community Safety MEC Violet Mathye, speaking to taxi operators, condemned the fine as unlawful. She asserted that the practice does not align with Santaco’s standards and harms the organization’s reputation. National spokeswoman Mmatshikidi Rebecca Phala added that the gala focused on collaboration, innovation, and growth within the taxi industry. Santaco aims to create a unified and commuter-focused taxi service.
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