Outrage as Taxi Patrollers Force Workers Out of Private Transport in Tshwane

South Africans are furious after passengers in Refilwe, Tshwane, were forcibly removed from their pre-arranged private transport by armed taxi patrollers. The South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) has condemned the incident and vowed to investigate.

An unsettling event in Refilwe, a township near Cullinan in Tshwane, has reignited national concerns over the unchecked power of taxi associations. On the evening of 4 April 2025, a group of workers commuting home in privately hired transport were pulled out of their vehicle by armed patrollers from the Refilwe Cullinan Taxi Association.

The transport service, arranged by residents through a fixed monthly payment system, had become a target of harassment from local patrollers as early as 1 April. Witnesses say the patrollers stopped vehicles, checked passenger identities, and demanded they use the taxi rank instead.

On 4 April, things escalated. As the workers were travelling from the township, the taxi patrollers stopped their transport and forced them out mid-trip. Passengers were left stranded on the side of the road, and some were compelled to walk a considerable distance to get away from the taxi rank area. Many eventually resorted to hitchhiking in fear and frustration.

SANTACO Condemns the Actions

SANTACO Tshwane spokesperson MacDonald Makata described the patrollers’ behavior as “unacceptable and unlawful.”

“We cannot have a situation where passengers and private transport providers are bullied off the road. These individuals are acting like they’re bigger than the organisation,” Makata said.

He added that SANTACO will launch a full investigation into the Refilwe incident.

Not the First Time

This isn’t the first time taxi patrollers have made headlines for aggressive tactics. In Mpumalanga in late 2024, patrollers allegedly harassed motorists for picking up hitchhikers. In November, armed patrollers hijacked a school transport van and held it hostage until a R15,000 fee was paid.

In March 2024, taxi turf wars in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, turned deadly. A university student was caught in the crossfire and wounded, while three others, including two taxi owners, lost their lives.

South Africans Speak Out

The public has had enough. Comments on social media reflect widespread anger:

• Davitha Mu Ha Di: “Taxi operators do as they wish in this country with no punishment.”

• Pappa Phume: “As someone working in the industry, I find this behaviour unfair and nonsensical.”

• Kellz Mtshumeni: “The country cannot depend on an industry that thrives on hooliganism.”

What’s Next?

SANTACO’s investigation may bring answers, but for now, communities like Refilwe are demanding safer, more reliable transport options free from intimidation.

As more South Africans turn to alternative transport due to convenience and affordability, it’s clear the industry is at a tipping point. The need for regulation, protection of commuter rights, and accountability within taxi associations has never been more urgent.

{Source Briefly News}

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