Ondangwa and Oshakati tighten taxi regulations

The Ondangwa and Oshakati town councils are taking steps to bring order to the taxi industry after years of local taxis operating in northern Namibia without registration, identification or reliable data on the number of vehicles on the road.

The move follows growing safety concerns and the proliferation of private vehicles operating illegally as taxis, particularly at night.

The Ondangwa Town Council is drafting new by-laws to regulate taxi operations in the town, saying reliance on national regulations has proved ineffective.

Ondangwa mayor Ester Mweneni Auala told Namibian Sun that the council has seen chaos in the taxi industry.

“The council has already adopted regulations to manage hawking activities, and now we are focusing on the taxi industry,” she said.

She said local regulations were essential to regulate taxi operations.

“We will require all taxi operators to have standardised markings and identification, making it easier to distinguish legitimate taxis from private vehicles,” she said.

Once the draft is completed and ratified, the regulations will take effect.

With the new regulations, all taxis will be mandated to register, providing the council with its first comprehensive database.

Bringing taxis into line

This initiative aligns with efforts in neighbouring Oshakati.

Oshakati spokesperson Martin Kapuka said the town does not have a verified database of taxi operators because taxis have gone unregistered for years in the absence of an approved local framework.

"We cannot speculate on figures we cannot substantiate. However, it is clear that vehicles operating as taxis without proper identification raise significant safety and regulatory concerns," Kapuka noted.

He said establishing a reliable database is now a priority so the council, law enforcement agencies, operators and the public can distinguish legitimate operators from unauthorised vehicles.

"This initiative is not about targeting individuals trying to earn a living. It is about ensuring that anyone transporting the public does so legally, safely, and in an organised manner," Kapuka explained.

Safety before boarding

Oshakati is advancing toward establishing a registration and identification system, strengthened by its new Traffic Law Enforcement Division. Enforcement will be conducted collaboratively with the Namibian Police and the Roads Authority.

Kapuka added the public transport policy has already received approval. Once the regulations are formalised and enforceable through the Local Magistrate's Court, the registration process will commence.

“Those with valid permits will be registered, while those with pending applications may be provisionally registered if they possess a valid temporary permit from the Roads Authority,” he said.

Both councils urged operators to come forward and formalise their operations, while advising passengers to remain vigilant.

"Please do not compromise your safety, particularly at night. Before boarding, ensure you look for proper identification, note the registration number, and share it with a family member or trusted individual," Kapuka advised.