Byline: Nonjabuliso Nhlambo
30 October 2025
Members of the Bethal taxi association, Standerton taxi association, and Vukanini taxi association gathered at Risibe Gardens in eMbalenhle to receive their long-awaited permits from the Department of Public Works, Roads, and Transport on Tuesday, 28 October 2025.
The initiative forms part of the October Transport Month programme, which MEC Thulasizwe Thomo launched at Grootvlei. A delegation from the department, led by the Director of Pre-Licensing, Mr Samuel Msiza, engaged with operators to address the challenges they face in the taxi industry.
According to Mr Samuel Msiza, the collection of operating licenses is an initiative from the Department aimed at improving service delivery to taxi operators.
“We have discovered that there are people who apply, and when they come to our offices, they find that it’s closed or the system is down. We apologise to those who have experienced such. Another reason we find ourselves with your licenses on our side is because when we call using a land line, we get blocked, and some hang up on us because they think it’s debtors,” said Mr Samuel Msiza, Director for pre-licensing
He further urged the association to call, not wait till the transport month to receive their licenses as they pile up in their offices, but rather the association calls them to clean their office.
Deputy chairperson of Santaco in Mpumalanga, Mr J.K Phoku, shared remarks on behalf of the association.
“The problem with the department they leave operating licenses in their offices and go on the road and penalise our members for not having licenses. The department should not stop today, as it’s transport month, as soon as they see so many licenses in their offices, they should go to the district and hand them out,” Said Mr Phoku
He further urged the department to fast-track the process of applying for operating licences.
