How MTN and SANTACO are digitising South Africa’s taxi industry

Future pilots will add IoT tracking and cashless fares

MTN South Africa, a telecommunications company that provides mobile and digital services across the country, has entered into a partnership with the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO), the representative body of the country’s minibus-taxi industry. The agreement, announced on 13 August 2025, begins in Gauteng province, where more than 35,000 of South Africa’s nearly 190,000 taxis operate.

In the first stage of the initiative, SANTACO Gauteng will act as a reseller of MTN mobile data, information and communications technology, and financial services products. Both organisations also plan pilot projects that will test Internet-of-Things tracking systems and cashless payment solutions designed for taxi operations.

The minibus-taxi sector is the main form of public transport in South Africa, carrying millions of passengers every day. Despite its central role in mobility, the industry remains largely cash-based and informally structured. Through the new arrangement, MTN aims to integrate digital tools that could support payment processing, fleet management, and operational oversight, while SANTACO provides sector-wide access to taxi operators and commuters.

According to the Gauteng Household Travel Survey 2019/20, approximately 70% of households in the province do not own a private vehicle, and minibus taxis account for nearly a quarter of peak-period trips. By introducing digital products through SANTACO’s network, the partnership has the potential to reach a broad segment of commuters and operators, beginning in Gauteng and later extending to other provinces.