Santaco Slams “False Reports” of Private Vehicle Restrictions Amid Social Media Uproar

Social Media Panic Over Alleged Taxi Rules

Over the weekend, South Africans scrolled through shocking images and videos that quickly went viral: motorists allegedly being stopped by taxi drivers, told not to carry more than one passenger, even if those passengers were their own children or family members. Some posts went as far as to claim that cars could be damaged or even set alight if drivers ignored the so-called rules.

The panic was real, but according to the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco), the claims are nothing more than misinformation.

Santaco Pushes Back: “We Never Issued Such Orders”

Santaco spokesperson Mmatshikhidi Rebecca Phala moved swiftly to set the record straight.

“We wish to place it on record that Santaco has never issued such a communication and has never imposed any mode of transport on the public. Any individual making such claims is not, and has never been, speaking on behalf of the council,” she said.

Phala condemned the alleged acts of harassment in “the strongest terms,” reminding the public that only law enforcement, not taxi associations, have the legal mandate to regulate road use in South Africa. She encouraged anyone who experiences harassment on the road to report directly to police.

Tembisa Taxi association members continues being a problem to many motorists.

Here the driver was pulled over then forced to offload his family member whom he picked up , He was told that failure to do that he will be seriously beaten.

City of Ekurhuleni metro cop arrived on… pic.twitter.com/gvR8RZpaW6

— Vehicle Trackers (@VehicleTracker8) August 16, 2025

KZN Branch Adds Its Voice

Santaco’s KwaZulu-Natal branch also released a statement, describing the rumors as “misleading” and stressing that the taxi council does not and cannot, impose restrictions on private motorists.

“Santaco is a recognised structure, as affirmed by the 2020 National Taxi Lekgotla, mandated to oversee and coordinate affiliated taxi structures. Our role is to promote a safe, reliable and regulated public transport service, not to dictate private transport choices,” the provincial office explained.

The Wider Context: Transport Tensions

The denials come at a sensitive time for South Africa’s transport sector. Just last week, an e-hailing driver was killed and two others injured when vehicles were attacked by unknown suspects outside Maponya Mall in Soweto. The incident reignited concerns about tensions between different transport operators and the safety of commuters.

In that climate, rumors about taxi associations enforcing passenger limits on private motorists struck a raw nerve. Social media amplified the panic, leaving many South Africans unsure of what was true.

We called the Transport MEC & the Chairperson of the Community Safety Committee.

They assured us that law enforcement is on the scene & will intervene in the taxi/e-hailing matter at Maponya Mall.

But this issue is neither new nor isolated! Where is the authority of the state? pic.twitter.com/ArZpRr3zZp

— Ayanda Allie MPL (@AyandaAllie) August 14, 2025

Why the Rumor Spread So Quickly

Transport disputes in South Africa have a long history of spilling over into violence, from minibus taxi turf wars to clashes with e-hailing services. Against this backdrop, it’s easy to see why so many believed the posts at face value.

But experts warn that misinformation like this not only fuels unnecessary fear but also deepens mistrust between commuters, drivers, and taxi operators.

A Call for Calm and Clarity

Santaco’s firm response underscores an important message: taxis remain one transport option among many, not a system that dictates how families or individuals use their cars.

The challenge now lies in rebuilding public trust and ensuring that false narratives don’t derail already fragile relationships in South Africa’s transport sector.

For everyday commuters, the takeaway is clear: check the source before believing viral posts, especially in a country where transport issues are already a flashpoint.

{Source: The Citizen}

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