Gauteng cracks down on unlicensed taxi drivers as 46 repeat offenders are found

Gauteng authorities are stepping up their crackdown on unsafe and non-compliant public transport operators after inspectors found 46 minibus taxi drivers operating without valid driving licences across the province.

The discovery has raised fresh concerns around repeat offenders in the taxi industry, with Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela warning that drivers who ignore the rules will face action.

The enforcement comes as thousands of Gauteng residents rely on taxis every day to get to work, school and other parts of the province.

Inspectors target major transport corridors

The Gauteng Transport Inspectorate (GTI) carried out enforcement operations between 1 and 4 October 2026, focusing on some of the province’s busiest public transport routes.

Officials checked whether drivers and vehicles had the required documentation, complied with road traffic laws and met public transport safety requirements.

The inspections resulted in 18 discontinuation notices being issued across Gauteng.

Tshwane accounted for four of the notices, while 10 were issued in Ekurhuleni and another four in Johannesburg.

The MEC said law enforcement agencies have been instructed to enforce the law consistently.

“Law enforcement agencies, including GTI officers, have been directed to apply strict actions and enforce road traffic laws, without fear or favour,” Diale-Tlabela said.

15 taxis taken off the road

The inspections also uncovered vehicles that officials considered unsafe for use.

A total of 15 minibus taxis were discontinued after being found unroadworthy, meaning they were considered a potential danger to passengers and other people using the roads.

Another 22 taxis were found operating without valid licence discs.

For commuters, these checks are about more than paperwork. A taxi that is not properly licensed or maintained can potentially put passengers at risk, particularly on busy Gauteng roads where public transport vehicles cover long distances every day.

The department says removing unsafe vehicles from the road remains part of its broader effort to improve compliance in the public transport sector.

Hundreds of traffic offences recorded

The crackdown went beyond taxi operators.

GTI officers issued 664 handwritten AARTO infringement notices during the enforcement period. A further 390 electronic infringement notices were processed using e-Force devices.

Of those electronic notices, 20 were issued in Tshwane, 220 in Johannesburg and 150 in Ekurhuleni.

Police and traffic officials also made several arrests during the operations.

One motorist was arrested after allegedly being found in possession of a stolen vehicle, while six motorists were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Gauteng says enforcement will continue

The operations were carried out with the Road Traffic Management Corporation and other law enforcement agencies as part of the province’s #RemoveSkorokoro campaign.

The campaign is aimed at improving road safety and tackling vehicles and motorists that fail to meet the required legal and safety standards.

Diale-Tlabela said the latest enforcement results showed why regular inspections and cooperation between law enforcement and the public transport industry remain important.

“We will not allow regulatory non-compliance as well as non-adherence to road traffic laws that put the lives of passengers and other road users at risk,” she said.

The MEC added that officers would continue taking action against motorists and public transport operators who fail to comply with the law.

For Gauteng commuters, the message is straightforward: authorities are increasing pressure on operators and drivers who continue to put unsafe or improperly licensed vehicles onto the province’s roads.

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Source: The Citizen