Gauteng taxi operators threaten province-wide shutdown on 28 July over licence dispute

National Taxi Alliance operators have warned of a province-wide strike and shutdown in Gauteng on Tuesday 28 July 2026, with the action set to run for a minimum of seven days if no agreement is reached, the alliance says.

What the taxi alliance says

The National Taxi Alliance (NTA) says operators are unable to renew or apply for operating licences because of a backlog within the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport. The NTA says this has left many drivers and operators working without licences and facing fines and vehicle impoundments.

Government response

Gauteng’s MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, disputes the NTA’s account. She has said there are no backlogs and that the licence renewal system works as designed. The MEC has blamed the planned strike on what she called illegal operators and so-called “ghost members”.

“[She] insists the licence renewal system works exactly as designed,”

The MEC pointed to a discrepancy between association and departmental membership figures: the taxi alliance gives a figure of 542 members, while the department’s records show 4 800 members.

Negotiations and next steps

Gauteng NTA chair Mpho Motsepe has called for a meeting with the MEC to address industry grievances. The NTA says if those issues are not resolved, the strike will proceed for at least seven days starting on 28 July 2026.

Potential economic impact

The article notes that a taxi shutdown would have wide effects because, it says, more than 75% of South Africans rely only on minibus taxis for transport. It warns that businesses could close for the day if taxis do not operate.

Recent and past disruptions

The piece refers to unrest a month earlier, on 30 June 2026, when immigration protests affected parts of the country. It also recalls a 2023 taxi strike in Cape Town organised by SANTACO over mass taxi impoundments. After the 2023 dispute, the Cape Chamber of Commerce reported financial damage in the tens of millions and found that:

• Three quarters of businesses reported more than half their staff were affected.
• 69% reported direct financial losses.
• 32% lost over half their usual daily earnings.

What’s at stake

The NTA has framed the strike as a response to stalled licensing processes and enforcement that leaves operators exposed to fines and impoundments. Government officials say internal figures and system performance do not support the alliance’s claims. With talks planned but no public agreement reported, the NTA’s deadline of 28 July 2026 stands.

This article is a rewrite based solely on the facts reported in the source material.