Cashless taxi payments could soon become a reality in Gauteng as Premier Panyaza Lesufi doubles down on plans to modernise the province’s taxi industry. The initiative aims to make all taxi transactions digital, allowing passengers to pay using smartphones, bank cards, Sassa cards or prepaid cards while reducing the risks associated with carrying cash.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!“Imagine paying a Gauteng taxi with your phone, Sassa card, credit card, debit card or a prepaid temporary card. Imagine no more. We are migrating our taxi industry to a cashless environment to eliminate cash that leads to ATM bombings, cash-in-transit heists and business robberies,” said Lesufi in a social media post.
Digital Shift for the Taxi Sector
Lesufi first introduced the idea in 2023, with a plan to fully transition to cashless payments by January 2026. Earlier this year, he reaffirmed that the province would push ahead with the rollout through a new platform called SAPay.
Passengers will be able to activate their SAPay wallets online or by scanning a sticker displayed in minibus taxis. The service will also be accessible via a mobile app on the Google Play Store.
Registration is simple: users provide their name and cellphone number to set up a once-off digital wallet. “QR codes are like barcodes your phone camera can read, and NFC lets you tap and pay if your phone supports it,” explained SAPay.
How the System Will Work
Once their accounts are active, commuters can load funds using a Sassa card, debit or credit card, or through a bank transfer. Parents can also manage and monitor their children’s travel spending remotely.
For those who don’t own smartphones, a prepaid SAPay card will be available for R100 at selected retailers and directly from taxi drivers. The card can be topped up and used until the balance runs out. Lost cards or devices can easily be replaced without losing funds.
SAPay also includes added features to boost passenger confidence, such as:
- A 30-day life insurance cover
- Discounts from partner brands
- In-app reporting of unsafe taxis or incidents
“This is not just a payment solution, it’s a safety and efficiency upgrade for the entire minibus taxi sector,” the company stated. “It’s a joint venture with the National Taxi Alliance to create meaningful benefits for commuters, drivers and operators.”
Mixed Reactions from the Public
While many praised the move as a sign of progress, others voiced concerns about accessibility and trust in the system.
On X, Godfrey Maphanga wrote: “Why don’t you address the safety of passengers? People are losing their lives to the taxi industry daily.”
Another user, Clifford Sihlezana, questioned the practicality of top-ups: “Why must I go to a retail store to load funds? Why not just tap my bank card?”
Mahlare Moradu added: “We’ve seen these kinds of initiatives before. Formalising the taxi industry has failed many times. I doubt this will be any different.”
Lesufi Undeterred
Despite the criticism, Lesufi remains confident that the cashless system will help curb crime, improve transparency, and bring the sector into the digital age.
“This is about safety, efficiency and accountability,” Lesufi said. “We can’t modernise our public transport system while still relying on cash that fuels crime.”
If successful, the SAPay rollout could mark one of the biggest shifts in Gauteng’s taxi industry turning an informal cash-driven sector into a more structured and secure transport system. But whether commuters and operators will fully embrace the change remains to be seen.
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