Thibedi at the graduation ceremony of taxi operators who has completed the
Transport Education and Training Authority (TETA) training
23 May 2006
Honourable Premier, Edna Molewa
Kgosi Jeff Montshioa
Leadership of the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco)
Leadership of the North West Taxi Council (NWPTC)
Provincial Executive Manager of the Department of Labour
Programme Director
Ladies and Gentlemen
Special greetings on a very special day. Special in the sense that it is
good enough weather to warm the hearts and souls for the achievements that can
be seen rather than just spoken about.
It is what you see rather than what you feel that fills this room with the
warmth and hope. Indeed as a province we have moved a long way in this regard
and continue accelerate in the right direction.
When the weatherman issued a stern warning for people to stay indoors or
wrap up warmly if they dare venture outside, I said to myself, Mr Weatherman,
no matter how cold it is we will beat your cold front sting and frostbites and
come together to witness what could best be described as a remarkable
achievements by our people in the transport sector.
For me personally, it is a great honour to address this gathering more so
that it is the first formal gathering that I have to address after our Budget
Speech in the Provincial Legislature on Thursday, May 11.
Today Iâm not addressing colleagues in Government, but some of the people
who with their votes have given us the mandate to lead.
We have gathered here to witness and congratulate 291 graduates who have
successfully undergone and completed the Transport Education Training Authority
(TETA) programme. They are not just skilled, but they are also accredited with
certificates recognised and sanctioned by National Qualification Framework.
Who are those 291 graduates we are talking to about?
These are taxi operators drawn from the transport sector in our province
who, through the National Skills Funding Program underwent training during the
2004-2005 financial years.
Today, they have been inducted and have knowledge about:
*customer care
*basic financial administration
*professional driving
*mentoring and coaching.
For the province, especially my Department, we consider ourselves very lucky
indeed. Our taxi industry has been very stable. Talks, discussions and debating
issues have replaced the taxi violence that used to destabilise the industry
especially in the Eastern Region. Stability has returned at other flash points
like Vryburg and Zeerust.
We can do better and Iâm confident that we can succeed in making the taxi
industry a vibrant and evenly spread business and not a macho business where
the bigger boys have the last word.
I always like to emphasise this point that, it is a known fact that North
West is among the leading provinces in meeting the requirements of Governmentâs
Taxi Recapitalisation Program (Recap). And I must say that I feel good for
saying this!
We are not beating our breast but we have worked hard and moved with great
speed to be recap ready while other provinces are still calling on Government
to postpone the conversion of permits licenses to Operating Licences.
We in the North West, although there were minor technical problems, started
issuing to operators their new Operating Licences towards the end of last year
(2005).
By the way the dead-line for all taxi operators in the country to covert
from permit license to Operating Licences is next week Wednesday, May 31, 2006
and this province is ready for that.
Today in another step ahead in that 291 taxi operators, whose services
combined with those of their colleagues country wide, carry more than 65
percent of passengers daily.
You are dealing with people who carry people lives in the course of doing
business. It is therefore important that customer care becomes a buzzword in
your business. Every one of you must sing the words âCustomer Care! Customer
Care!â every day.
There is even a bigger challenge for you as operators ahead. And that is
during the 2010 Fifa World Cup, which this country will be hosting.
You will be taking care of people from every corner of this universe.
That is how important you are to the transport sector.
Taxi operators will have to take centre stage here not just to ferry people
from all corners of the globe to and from stadium. But you have to act as good
ambassadors for this country before, during and also after the World Cup soccer
showpiece.
The taxi industry is a black manâs initiated business in this country and we
as Government want it to remain in your hands. So you take full ownership of it
in all respects.
What we as Government seek to achieve is to regulate your industry, empower
all taxi operators and not just the 291 and to transform the taxi industry into
safe mode of transport and sustainable business for the operators.
During your Taxi Lekgotla, which I addressed on March 16, I cautioned the
industry from becoming the appendage of the Department or Government
You are now business people and that is why one of the requirements for TETA
programme is Basic Financial Management so that you are equipped to run a
proper business.
You must know how to keep books how to invest and different modes of
businesses, then and only then could we talk of sustainable transport
business.
This training is the first and the right step in that direction and I wish
you luck, congratulations and let your light shine the world.
To the leadership of the Provincial Taxi Council and parent body South
African National Taxi Council, thank you for supporting this grant initiative
to availing your members to undergo this training, and for being there when
they needed you.
It is for the good of the taxi industry, for the country and for our
people.
Ke a leboga
Issued by: North West Provincial Government
23 May 2006
Source: North West Provincial Government (http://www.nwpg.gov.za)
