In a historic move to professionalise the mini-bus taxi (MBT) industry South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) Western Cape, in partnership with the Western Cape Mobility Department, launched the MBT Executive Leadership Development Programme at the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business (UCT GSB) on Thursday 23 October .
The six-month programme brings academic rigour, systems thinking and community-focused transformation together. It aims to develop ethical visionary and collaborative leaders to guide the taxi sector towards a more stable and respected future.
Developed by UCT GSB executive education and resolve and change systems (RACS), the programme is the first of its kind to introduce taxi leaders formally into a structured business-school environment. Participants will complete seven modules blending theory with practical application, with a focus on self-leadership, collaboration and innovation.
Mandla Hermanus, chair of Santaco Western Cape, described the initiative as long overdue. “For too long our industry has been defined by stories of conflict and division. The MBT Executive Leadership Development Programme is about rewriting that narrative. We are investing in the development of our people so that the taxi industry can stand tall as a professional, respected, and forward-looking sector,” he said.
Western Cape Mobility minister Isaac Sileku said the sector is about more than moving people it is about driving the economy forward. “Transformation is no longer optional,” Sileku added, “it’s essential for the survival and growth of this sector. It’s about re-engineering the way this sector operates, ensuring peace becomes permanent, livelihoods are secure, and commuters are protected.”
The programme positions leadership, learning and collaboration at the heart of the taxi industry’s transformation, sending a strong message that professional development can underpin a more sustainable and respected sector.
