Mayor Morero urges taxi industry to become ‘eyes and ears’ in fight against GBVF

Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero has called on the city’s taxi industry to act as the “eyes and ears” of police and communities in the fight against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF). Morero made the appeal while speaking in Soweto, where a candlelit moment of silence was held for recent victims of femicide.

Mayoral lecture in Soweto

Morero delivered his mayoral lecture at the Soweto Theatre on Sunday. He joined a nationwide chorus demanding an end to GBVF and said city projects and initiatives include a public safety component.

“This is done to promote enhanced visibility, safety, and improve the quality of life in communities across Johannesburg. For us, building infrastructure alone is not enough,” he said.

Protecting women in public spaces

Morero warned against normalising violence against women and described such violence as a stain on society. He said women carry many burdens and sacrifices and that attacks on women threaten the safety of the wider community. “If they feel unsafe, the whole world is in danger,” he said.

Noting that women are frequently preyed on in public spaces, Morero said the taxi industry should play a role in protecting them. He said he had recently engaged with taxi associations and announced a joint plan to fight gender-based violence.

“We will become the eyes and ears of the police and our communities. We will not turn a blind eye. We will go into dark spaces and make them safe for our women to walk, run, live and play,”

He added:

“Every woman must feel safe to walk in the streets of Johannesburg because Johannesburg is our first love and we love our mothers, women and children.”

Responses from the taxi industry and government

The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) said the nation must intensify efforts to protect vulnerable members of society. Santaco president Motlhabane Abnar Tsebe was quoted saying the organisation joins calls for law enforcement to strengthen prevention and investigations so those responsible face the law.

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy urged the taxi industry to use its network for good, saying ranks, routes and vehicles are daily points of contact with vulnerable people. Creecy said Santaco’s safety and training initiatives led by the association’s women’s branch could lay a foundation for protecting women.

“Training is only the first gear. We need active enforcement and zero tolerance for abuse at every rank and on every route. Our roads and taxi ranks must be turned into safe zones. Drivers, operators, and marshals must be the first line of defence. If you see harassment, you must speak up,”

What officials say next

Morero emphasised that the city “will not turn a blind eye” in efforts to ensure the safety of women, framing the partnership with the taxi industry as part of broader public-safety-focused city initiatives.