By Mapaballo Borotho
- Police officers stationed at Lingelethu West are allegedly involved in the taxi industry despite strict laws prohibiting it.
- Crime activist Ian Cameron says SAPS members are not allowed to own or operate taxis directly or indirectly.
- The allegations come amid ongoing taxi violence in the Western Cape, where several recent shootings have claimed lives.
Questions have been raised about what happens when police officers become involved in side hustles such as owning taxis.
This as some members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) stationed at Lingelethu West have reportedly been identified as being involved in the taxi industry.
According to crime activist and chairperson of Parliament’s police portfolio committee, Ian Cameron, these members allegedly own taxis in the area, something that is prohibited by law.
Section 46 of the SAPS Act 68 of 1995 prohibits police officials from owning or operating minibus taxis, while Section 13 of the National Land Transport Act extends this prohibition to the spouses of police officials.
In addition, SAPS National Instruction 18 of 2019 on Integrity Management clearly states that no SAPS member may be involved in the taxi industry directly or indirectly.
“There are no exceptions, and this applies regardless of whether a member claims to have permission or not.
Police officers are also prohibited from performing remunerative work outside the Service without proper authorisation,” said Cameron.
He added that this raises serious questions about conflicts of interest and the integrity of policing, particularly in a sector known for recurring deadly violence.
What happens if a police officer is involved in the taxi industry?
If a police official is found to be involved in the taxi industry, internal disciplinary investigations must follow and dismissal may result.
Where evidence of illegal involvement exists, criminal case dockets must also be registered.
SAPS leadership has repeatedly reinforced a zero-tolerance approach, stating that members must choose between their police careers and private business interests in sectors such as transport, private security and alcohol.
The concerns come as taxi violence continues to disrupt communities, particularly in the Western Cape, where a 14-year-old girl was recently killed after being caught in crossfire.
At the same time, three people were killed on Thursday morning in a taxi-related incident in Delft.
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