Taxi violence in South Africa : insight from Mpumalanga Township, Kwazulu-Natal Province, South Africa

Abstract

Despite the demise of apartheid, taxi violence still remains a major challenge in the South African minibus-taxi industry. South Africa is no stranger to bloody clashes between rival taxi organizations who fight to gain dominance over lucrative routes. This qualitative study examines the transition of taxi violence in a new democratic South Africa and draws upon semi-structured interviews conducted with taxi drivers in Mpumalanga Township, which is a low-urban community settlement in the eThekwini Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal province. The findings suggest that taxi violence still remains a fundamental challenge in South Africa, and its perpetrators are predominantly taxi owners contesting ownership of lucrative routes to secure a more robust daily income. This study posits that a holistic approach must be taken and the entire industry restructured.