from South Africa
WORLDWIDE TAXI FOCUS from Morocco
PARTNERSHIP AIMS TO TRANSFORM JOHANNESBURG’S TAXI INDUSTRY
A new partner- ship signed on 6 August, aims to overhaul Johan- nesburg’s taxi sector, improve daily operations and bring safety and dignity to millions of inner city commuters. The memorandum of understanding was agreed between taxi industry body Gibela Namela Holdings and urban renewal movement Jozi My Jozi. The initiative comes amid growing concerns over the potential collapse of a vital taxi rank, plus frequent reports of road accidents and regulatory non- compliance. Officials behind the initiative believe that improving the sector will benefit all road users and fundamentally change the city’s future. “In Johannesburg, millions of people take minibus taxis every day, and commuters, whether they ride in minibus taxis or drive their own vehicles, deserve safer roads. That is what this MOU is all about. If we fix taxis, we positively shift the trajectory of the whole city,” said Jozi My Jozi CEO Innocent Mabusela. Mabusela highlighted that the taxi sector is one of the city’s most crucial economic drivers. He noted that the agreement followed months of careful consultation with industry leaders to ensure lasting solutions were built alongside the people who operate the system daily. The framework outlines long-term goals such as introducing technology for digital record-keeping, raising operational compliance and setting the groundwork for future public integration and government subsidies. Practical improvements will be driven through four core pillars: Project Dignity to upgrade and clean congested ranks; Project Protect to enhance security with smart cameras, solar lighting and trained marshals; Project Heal to support drivers’ physical and mental health; and Project Learn to provide professional road safety training. Additionally, the partners plan to launch a Smart Mobility Transit system. This digital approach will introduce modern electronic ticketing and data-driven solutions to optimise public transport across the city.
PHTM SEPTEMBER 2026
MOROCCAN UNIONS WARN CABBIES AGAINST BLOCKING RIDE-HAILING CARS
Moroccan taxi drivers have been warned by union officials that they could face legal action if they block, surround, or detain ride-hailing vehicles, as they have no authority to enforce transport regulations. The Democratic Transport Union, condemned roadside interceptions and stated that disputes over unlicensed transport must be handled by police and local authorities rather than drivers taking matters into their own hands. Faraby criticised a small group of drivers for staging ambushes, using decoy passengers, and impersonating enforcement officers. He emphasised restricting someone’s freedom of movement can’t happen outside the legal framework. Meanwhile, the Moroccan Democratic Transport Union, defended the actions, arguing that professional drivers were exercising their constitutional right to protest against unauthorised transport.
MOROCCAN COURT JAILS 7 CABBIES OVER CEUTA MIGRATION CRISIS
Seven taxi drivers in northern Morocco have been handed six-month prison sentences and fined £800 each for aiding irregular migration by driving people to the Spanish border in Ceuta. Judges found the cabbies guilty of “facilitating the illegal exit of Moroccans and foreigners through unauthorised border points” and “transporting passengers without a licence,” after they drove clients to the Moroccan border town of Fnideq. The drivers were
appearing before prosecutors without defence representation due to a nationwide lawyers’ strike. The National Taxi Union condemned the sentences as “shocking and harsh,” noting: “no official decision was issued imposing restrictions on passenger transport.” It stated that the drivers were punished for simply carrying out a public service by transporting citizens during a time of widespread travel. Angry cabbies stressed that they have no legal power to check passenger IDs or question their destinations, which is down to the authorities. The union has urged the Court of Appeal to overturn the verdicts.
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