More than 60 taxis taken off the roads in one week: Here’s why

Amid high-impact stop-and-search operations across major metropolitan municipalities in Gauteng, more than 60 taxis have been taken off the road due to invalid licences and serious mechanical defects. A total of 33 minibus taxi drivers were found operating without valid driving licences, while another 32 vehicles were found operating without valid licence discs. The operations carried out by the Gauteng Transport Inspectorate (GTI) and the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) between 27 July and 2 August 2026.

These stop-and-search operations also uncovered numerous traffic violations after 11 minibuses were discontinued after inspectors identified serious mechanical defects. These included faulty brakes, worn tyres and defective lighting systems, among other safety risks. These operations aimed to target high-risk public transport corridors by removing unroadworthy vehicles from roads, improving compliance with traffic legislation and addressing criminality within the transport sector.

It resulted in 42 discontinuation notices being issued to non-compliant motorists across the province: 12 in Tshwane, 13 in Joburg and 17 in Ekurhuleni. Law enforcement efforts further resulted in the arrest of nine motorists for various offences, including fraud and driving under the influence. Additionally, 815 electronic infringement notices were processed using the inspectorate’s e-Force devices. Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela emphasised that the operations are critical to the province’s road safety strategy.