Santaco Strike Halts Ekurhuleni Taxis, Stranding Thousands

Taxi operations across the Ekurhuleni metropolitan area ground to a halt after the SA National Taxi Council (Santaco) withdrew services late on Thursday. The stoppage followed municipal traffic officials’ decision to impound several minibuses deemed unroadworthy or operating without the required permits. By Friday morning, thousands of commuters were unable to reach workplaces and schools, prompting long queues at alternative transport hubs and heavier-than-usual private-vehicle traffic on major routes. Authorities reported no immediate resolution, and Santaco had not indicated when services would resume.