JMPD cracks down on unroadworthy taxis with zero-tolerance enforcement

In a decisive move to strengthen public transport safety, the JMPD has introduced a strict, zero-tolerance enforcement approach targeting unroadworthy minibus taxis.

Moving away from the traditional, repetitive cycle of merely issuing written fines or impounding vehicles, this marks the launch of an operational model intended for consistent use moving forward.

Spokesperson of the metro police, Xolani Fihla, said this encourages operators to repair critical vehicle defects immediately on the roadside before being allowed to continue.

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According to Fihla, the operation took place on May 20 when the JMPD chief of police personally intercepted a white Toyota minibus taxi, loaded with passengers, after witnessing a moving violation.

“Upon closer inspection, it was found that the taxi was operating with a completely faulty handbrake, a serious safety hazard, especially for a vehicle responsible for carrying members of the public,” he said.

He added that, by prioritising passenger safety, the passengers were promptly and safely offloaded from the unsafe minibus and transferred to an alternative vehicle to continue their journey.

Fihla said the operator was instructed to call a mechanic and source parts immediately.

“Under the supervision of JMPD officers, the taxi’s rear drum brakes, brake shoes, and wheel hub assembly were entirely dismantled and repaired roadside. The driver also paid an outstanding infringement penalty of R250 at the JMPD Wemmer Traffic Office before the vehicle was cleared,” explained Fihla.

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He stated that instead of allowing the driver to pay a routine fine and drive off with a potentially fatal mechanical fault, or entirely relying on the department’s impound process, officers grounded the vehicle on the spot.

The JMPD chief of police, Commissioner Patrick Jaca, described the operation as a vital turning point for law enforcement, not just in Johannesburg but potentially across South Africa.

“For too long, the enforcement of public transport regulations has been treated as a paper exercise or a transactional issue.

“Commuters are packed into these vehicles daily, trusting their lives to operators who sometimes neglect basic maintenance. Simply writing a ticket allows a dangerous rolling coffin to keep driving on our roads,” said Jaca.

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He added that this is a model they want to establish across the city from now on.

Jaca said they are shifting the paradigm. If your public transport vehicle is found with a safety defect that can be fixed, you will stop immediately. You will repair it right then and there, or it will not move.

He emphasised that they must be clear that if a vehicle is unroadworthy and presents an immediate, structural threat to public safety, they will not hesitate to remove it from the road completely and impound it.

“We are revolutionising law enforcement to ensure that every time a commuter enters a taxi, they are safe. This is the standard we aim to set for the entire country,” said Jaca.

The JMPD warns all public transport owners, associations, and drivers that this immediate on-site repair approach will be intensified across all regions of Johannesburg.

Unroadworthy vehicles pose an immediate risk to passengers, pedestrians, and other motorists. The department will continue employing all legal measures available to ensure compliance is mandatory.