Taxi commuters will participate in a new initiative to choose the best taxi driver.

This follows the launch of the industry's awards by the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) in Johannesburg last week.

Santaco launched the SA National Taxi Industry Awards through which it aims to improve its service. The event has 10 categories, which include taxi driver of the year, taxi operator of the year, taxi industry youth recognition, women's desk recognition and queue marshal of the year.

Santaco president Philip Taaibosch said commuters would be able to nominate the drivers, who would in turn choose the best operator, through an SMS.

He said the awards, which would be independently evaluated by auditing firm SizweNtsalubaGobodo, would recognise industry role players who had performed outstandingly in their duties.

He made illustrations of performances that needed to be recognised, which he described as "random acts of kindness".

While behind the initiative, Transport Minister Dipuo Peters decried the industry's failure to comply with labour laws.

Lesedi FM radio announcer Thuso Motaung and Tshatha Ngobe of Ukhozi FM are the awards' ambassadors.

Prizes had not been decided yet.

National winners will be announced on October 20.