The deaths of 12 schoolchildren in a horrific taxi and truck collision in Vanderbijlpark have sent shockwaves across the country.

In Fourways, the tragedy has reopened wounds and unleashed fresh fury among residents who say reckless taxi driving has been ignored for far too long.

The children were killed when their school transport, a minibus taxi, allegedly attempted to overtake four vehicles before colliding with a truck on January 19.

Read more: Taxi crash sparks renewed calls for road safety crackdown in Fourways

For many Fourways residents, the tragedy is not distant; it mirrors the daily danger they say they live with on roads such as Winnie Mandela Drive and Cedar Road, among others.

Residents say taxi drivers routinely speed, jump red robots, drive on the wrong side of the road, and even mount pedestrian walkways to bypass traffic.

Last year, fed-up community members began recording these incidents on their phones, capturing videos of taxis blasting through red lights and using sidewalks meant for pedestrians as fast lanes.

Registration numbers were sent directly to JMPD in an effort to force accountability. But residents said those reports changed nothing.

Ward 94 councillor David Foley has previously taken the extraordinary step of physically blocking taxis accused of reckless driving, particularly along Winnie Mandela Drive and at the Robert Bruce intersection.

“It is extremely heartbreaking,” said a resident who asked to remain anonymous. “I too was once bashed on Winnie Mandela due to reckless driving. It’s really traumatising. Every single day, I fear for my children and myself.”

With schools reopened, she said the situation is becoming even more terrifying, as taxis rush to meet schedules with complete disregard for safety.

Also read: Fourways Improvement District hits key safety and urban goals in 2025

“We need more traffic officers on site. No more people should be losing their lives because of reckless driving.”

The resident has called for a community-funded intervention, saying she no longer trusts authorities to keep them alive. Proposals include forming a community traffic or security watch specifically for Winnie Mandela Drive, funded by monthly household contributions.

“If each house contributes R150, it can really bring change. I’m willing to be the first to pay. R100 from every household can go a long way. The government is failing us, so let’s take our lives into our own hands because we are living in nonsense.”

In response to the growing outrage, Foley has called an urgent community meeting to confront reckless taxi behaviour and discuss solutions through his non-profit company, the Fourways Improvement District.

He has urged residents to attend the meeting with further details to be confirmed, saying the anger in the community can no longer be ignored.

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