The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) is outraged and condemns in the strongest terms the brutal killing of an e-hailing driver in Soweto allegedly by taxi operators yesterday. This senseless act of violence and utter disregard for human life once again exposes the dangers facing workers in the transport sector and the urgent need for government intervention.
The violence against e-hailing drivers is not an isolated incident — it is part of a systematic pattern of intimidation and harassment by certain taxi operators to maintain control over passenger transport routes. At the heart of the conflict is fierce competition for passengers in a shrinking economy, with rising unemployment leaving fewer commuters for both taxis and e-hailing services.
The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) has intensified this tension. E-hailing platforms can fetch passengers directly from their homes and deliver them to workplace doorsteps, bypassing taxi ranks and bus stops where minibus taxis traditionally wait. This has displaced many taxi operators, fuelling resentment and, at times, violence.
Condemning anti-competitive violence
SAFTU is equally appalled by a growing and unacceptable pattern of violence and sabotage against other modes of transport:
- Private and long-distance buses have been targeted with attacks, including arson, aimed at eliminating competition and forcing workers to rely exclusively on taxis.
- In some areas, certain taxi operators have set up illegal roadblocks, stopping private cars to interrogate drivers and passengers.
- Passengers have reported being forced to kiss each other to “prove” they are husband and wife when accused of giving or receiving a lift, and cars have been impounded with exorbitant release fees demanded.
These practices are nothing short of barbaric and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. They violate the rights of workers, commuters, and the public, and they undermine any claim to serving communities.
Internecine violence within the taxi industry
It is not only conflict between taxis and e-hailing services that destroys lives — internecine violence within the taxi industry itself is equally devastating.
- Rival taxi associations and competing routes have given rise to gun battles in public spaces, leaving innocent commuters, bystanders, and workers caught in the crossfire.
- This ongoing bloodshed has orphaned countless children and robbed families of their breadwinners, deepening poverty and trauma in working-class communities.
The chain of pressure
The conflict between taxi and e-hailing drivers is rooted in a chain of exploitation and financial pressure:
Banks → Taxi owners
- Taxi finance operates under a developmental credit regime that allows interest rates up to repo + 27% — around 34% per annum today.
- While the prime lending rate is 10.50%, specialist lenders such as SA Taxi have historically charged up to 26.5%on new loans.
- This forces taxi owners into unsustainable repayment schedules and long-term debt traps.
Taxi owners → Taxi drivers
- Owners pass this pressure down by setting unrealistic daily revenue targets.
- To meet these targets, drivers are forced to overload vehicles, speed, and cut corners on traffic laws.
- Many work dangerously long hours, sleep in their taxis without facilities, and start the next day exhausted — creating safety risks for everyone on the road.
Platform owners → E-hailing drivers
- E-hailing drivers face high commissions deducted by platform owners.
- They carry the cost of buying the car, paying instalments, servicing and repairing the vehicle, fuelling it, and covering insurance — all from their own pockets.
This chain of pressure drives desperation and competition, pitting workers against workers while banks, financiers, taxi bosses, and corporate platforms extract wealth from their labour.
E-hailing drivers’ legal vulnerability
Most e-hailing drivers in South Africa are not recognised as “employees” under the Labour Relations Act or Basic Conditions of Employment Act. They are classified as “independent contractors,” which means they:
- Have no automatic protection against unfair dismissal.
- Are not guaranteed the national minimum wage.
- Have no statutory right to paid leave, sick leave, or overtime pay.
While there have been isolated CCMA rulings recognising some as employees, these are limited and fact-specific. Platforms have since restructured contracts to avoid broader recognition, leaving most e-hailing drivers with no effective labour rights.
SAFTU’s call
The violence is a product of a broken transport system and a failing capitalist economy. Workers in both sectors should not be fighting each other — they should be uniting against exploitation. SAFTU calls on both taxi and e-hailing drivers to join unions and organise for decent working conditions, fair pay, and safety.
SAFTU demands:
- Urgent mediation: The Ministry of Transport must immediately convene taxi associations, e-hailing representatives, commuter organisations, and communities to develop a peaceful, lasting solution.
- Address root causes: Tackle unemployment, exploitative financing, poor working conditions, and unregulated competition.
- Safety measures: Increase police and security presence at hot spots and create emergency response systems for all transport workers.
- Public transport reform: Build a publicly managed, integrated transport network where taxis serve as feeder services, e-hailing is regulated fairly, and commuting is affordable, safe, and reliable.
We extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the deceased driver. This act of violence is unacceptable. Those responsible must be arrested, prosecuted, and convicted without delay.
A Statement was issued on behalf of SAFTU by General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi.
For more details, contact the National Spokesperson at:
Newton Masuku
066 168 2157
Newtonm@saftu.org.za
