Radebe, MP, Minister of Transport, at Mahwelereng Stadium, Limpopo
24 February 2007
Members of the Executive Council (Exco)
MEC for Roads and Transport, comrade Justice Pitso
Members of the transport fraternity
South African National Taxi Association Council (SANTACO) leadership present
here today
The Limpopo Provincial Taxi Council
Councillors from other provinces
The leadership of the entire taxi industry
Distinguished guests
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen
Today marks a milestone in the history of the taxi industry in Limpopo and
throughout the country. It really pleases me to welcome this province into the
fold of others who are saying 'yes' to the recapitalisation programme in our
country. Many years of dedication to the Taxi Recapitalisation Programme (TRP)
are now paying off as we gather here to scrap old taxi vehicles and to launch
new taxi vehicles approved by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS).
As many of you shall witness during the TRP, the programme is not only about
scrapping old taxis and buying new ones but it forms part of government's broad
public transport strategy of developing Integrated Transport Plans (ITPs) at
provincial and local levels. It will also ensure that the taxi industry
participates broadly in our vision of an integrated public transport system
whereby trains, buses and taxis complement a network of an effective and
efficient transport system.
Today Limpopo will be the seventh province to scrap old taxi vehicles and I
must commend all the Department of Transport MECs in the nine provinces who are
making considerable progress in making sure that the TRP becomes a success.
Scrapping sites for each province have been identified for the main centres.
The sites in KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, Western
Cape and Mpumalanga are fully operational.
Applications are being accepted at the sites, payments to the concerned
operators are being made and the scrapping of vehicles is taking place. Those
sites that are not fully operational are accepting and processing applications.
I am urging all taxi operators to take advantage of these developments so that
our programme moves with speed.
I must mention that Limpopo is among the provinces that have been doing well
in co-ordinating TRP processes. I am reliably informed that this province is
upbeat about the scrapping process and that much consultation has been done. I
want to appreciate the work being done by the provincial scrapping team which
consists of SANTACO members, the provincial taxi council, TSA as well as the
provincial government officials. I am told that over 8 000 operators have been
issued with operating licenses by the Limpopo Provincial Operating Licenses
Board and therefore stand in line to take active part in the TRP. This number
comes from all the seven taxi districts of Limpopo, which include Moutse. I
want to acknowledge and thank the people of Moutse for having realised the
importance of scrapping here in Limpopo.
It is encouraging that over 556 taxi operators have registered for the
scrapping of their old taxi vehicles. Nationally there is overwhelming support
for ensuring legal operations and as of today more than 98 000 applications for
conversion have been processed.
The buy-in by the entire taxi industry is an indication that our people
realise the importance of the TRP process and the benefits that go along with
removing old taxis from our roads. As government we take the safety of
commuters very seriously and the new development within our taxi industry is a
plus to our commitment to save lives.
The recap programme will in the near future enhance the taxi industry in
participating in the overall subsidised network of our public transport system
and this will boost the taxi industry and elevate businessmen and women,
thereby contributing to the country's economic growth and prosperity.
The Limpopo province is joining the process of recap without any doubt and
we are not afraid of the unknown and this makes our plans as government very
easy to implement this programme of eradicating disorder in the entire taxi
industry. I want to appeal to SANTACO to continue conducting road shows that
are geared at strengthening our resolve for a better taxi industry. We are in
the same breath appealing to our brothers and sisters in the National Taxi
Alliance (NTA) to follow suit.
Ladies and gentlemen, I want to emphasise that advances in the economy have
sparked major challenges for our sectors of the economy. The increased consumer
demand for safe, comfortable, effective and sustainable transport services is a
reflection that our economy requires a balanced relationship for economic
clusters to pool their resources together. Transport is part of the economic
clusters that encompass energy, infrastructure, telecommunications,
manufacturing and engineering.
The Department of Transport is determined to:
* fast track and implement all transport services that enhance
development
* oversee all transport matters that assist to raise the rate of investment in
the first and second economies
* promote growth of small and medium business by ensuring reliable and
effective transport services and infrastructure
* promote the production of transport modes that improve our export and import
performance and the movement of people from and to places of need
* through transport to improve the safety and security of all citizens and
communities
* implement detailed programmes to respond to the challenges of the second
economy and the overall objectives of the Accelerated and Shared Growth
Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA).
Having said that, I will also emphasise that sustainable and effective
transport services and infrastructure are critical to the contribution of
increased investment and reducing the cost of doing business.
My Department is therefore determined to move earnestly with a comprehensive
public transport system aimed at improving the lives of the people. I must
embrace all taxi operators who are working closely with government, SABS,
National Automobile Association Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA) and
provincial Transport MECs and departments. Please let me urge all of you to
give each other the necessary support so that we can attain positive results
out of the TRP.
In conclusion, Programme Director, allow me to thank MEC Justice Pitso as
well as all MECs for Roads and Transport in the provinces for their sterling
leadership in steering this programme of changing the lives of taxi operators
and commuters for the better. The scrapping of old taxi vehicles in Limpopo
should bring joy and happiness to all South Africans and the "dikororo" on our
roads should be something of the past.
It is thus my honour and privilege to declare the scrapping of old taxi
vehicles in Limpopo and to officially launch the new taxi vehicles (NTVs) and
may the hammer begin!
I thank you!
Issued by: Department of Transport
24 February 2007
Source: Department of Transport (http://www.transport.gov.za/)
