Santaco condemns viral video of alleged taxi driver forcing bus passengers off to pay

What the footage shows

The footage, which circulated on social media, shows a man walking into a bus filled with passengers, greeting commuters and then telling them to ask the driver for their fare back so it could be used to cover a taxi fare. Direct quotes in the video include:

“Greetings, elders, we have a request here.”

“Those who paid cash, give the driver the change he gave you, so he can give your money back.”

The Citizen reports that passengers in the video were travelling from Rosslyn in Tshwane to Fafung in the North West, and that the incident occurred on Wednesday, 3 June 2026, along Hebron at Britz on the border of the North West and Gauteng provinces.

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Santaco response and apology

According to The Citizen, Santaco North West chairperson Shakes Mayekani called the recorded incident unacceptable and said it did not reflect the organisation’s values. Mayekani offered an apology to commuters who may have been inconvenienced or distressed by the episode.

Operational dispute behind tensions

The Citizen reports that investigations have identified an underlying dispute over contracted bus services operating on routes also served by local taxi associations. The existing arrangement, the article says, permits buses to operate during designated peak-hour periods.

Taxis associations, the article adds, raised concerns that some bus operators allegedly operate beyond the agreed peak-hour schedules and accept both ticketed and cash-paying commuters, which created frustration within the affected taxi operations.

Calls for lawful, non-violent resolution

According to The Citizen, Santaco emphasised that no grievance regardless of legitimacy justifies intimidation, harassment, threats, or the mistreatment of commuters. The article states that Santaco has engaged with affected taxi associations and the North West Department of Transport, and that the parties have agreed to work towards restoring adherence to the existing operational arrangements and stability in the transport corridors.

Next steps reported

The Citizen reports that Santaco welcomed progress made during these discussions and said it remained committed to finding sustainable solutions through dialogue, mutual respect, and lawful processes, and thanked commuters for their patience and understanding as stakeholders work to resolve the matter.