MMC Moshe Koma Engages MTN Taxi Rank Operators to Tackle Crime and By-Law Non-Compliance
BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR
MMC Moshe Koma Engages MTN Taxi Rank Operators to Tackle Crime and By-Law Non-Compliance
By : KasiBCAfrica News
7 August 2026
JOHANNESBURG — In a direct bid to restore order and bolster safety at one of the city's busiest public transit hubs, Johannesburg’s MMC for Public Safety, Councillor Moshe Koma, visited the MTN Taxi Rank today for an on-the-ground engagement with local taxi operators.
The visit provided a platform for operators to air pressing challenges that affect both their daily business operations and the safety of thousands of commuters passing through the rank daily.
Key Concerns Raised by Taxi Operators
During the interactive session, taxi operators detailed several operational and safety bottlenecks plaguing the facility and its surrounding perimeter:
- Pervasive Criminal Activity: Robberies, muggings, and alleged drug dealing in and around the rank.
- Persistent Power Outages: Dark, unlit areas caused by electricity outages, which create ideal conditions for criminal opportunistic acts.
- By-Law Violations: Widespread non-compliance with municipal regulations, including the illegal washing of taxis on public roads and unregulated informal trading spilling onto transit lanes.
- Environmental Degradation: Poor general cleanliness and lack of waste management around the immediate rank precinct.
Public Safety as a Shared Responsibility
Addressing the operators, MMC Koma made it clear that while the City is stepping up its enforcement and service delivery interventions, maintaining order requires active partnership from all stakeholders.
"Taxi ranks are critical public transport facilities that serve thousands of residents every day. We cannot allow these spaces to become breeding grounds for criminality, illegal activities, or non-compliance with City by-laws. We have listened to the concerns of the operators, and we will work with them and the relevant City departments to address the challenges raised."
— Councillor Moshe Koma, MMC for Public Safety
Koma urged taxi operators to take pride and ownership of their workspace by adhering to municipal regulations, discouraging illegal activities, and reporting crimes promptly.
City Commits to Actionable Interventions
The City of Johannesburg confirmed that multi-departmental interventions will be targeted at the MTN Taxi Rank precinct, focusing on:
- Targeted Law Enforcement: Stricter policing around crime hot spots, drug-related activities, and illegal trading.
- Infrastructure Repairs: Working alongside City entities to address lighting and electrical infrastructure failures around the rank.
- By-Law Enforcement: Ensuring equal and non-selective enforcement of municipal rules while resolving legitimate service delivery complaints.
Closing his address, MMC Koma reiterated the municipality's balanced approach:
"We want taxi operators to know that the City is listening. At the same time, we expect full cooperation and compliance. There can be no selective enforcement of the law. Where there are violations, the City will act, but where there are legitimate service delivery challenges, we must work together to resolve them."
The engagement marks an ongoing effort by the City of Johannesburg to transform public transport hubs into safer, cleaner, and more efficient environments for commuters and transport workers alike.
For live South African news updates and ongoing stories, you can check out the latest SABC News Headlines. This news broadcast covers recent public safety developments, community issues, and law enforcement updates across South Africa.
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