Safety, honourable Jerry Thibedi, during the provincial launch of the scrapping
of old mini-bus taxis held at Olympia Park Stadium, Rustenburg
18 March 2007
The taxi recapitalization program (Taxi Recap) has now come a long way. It
has been gathering momentum and it is now going ahead at full speed.
Today marks a very important chapter in the history of the taxi industry in
our province and that of the R7,7 billion government taxi recapitalisation. For
us a province it feels like the last lap of a marathon race, well run with
enthusiasm for more than five years.
Now that the finishing post is within our sight, we have to accelerate our
pace as a province and ensure that the national target to have at least 80% of
the current taxi fleet recapitalised by 2009/10 financial year is realised.
Against this background, Programme Director
It is important to note that it was right here in Rustenburg, during our
Transport Month Campaign of the year 2005 when we issued operating licenses to
our taxi operators. That occasion took place at the taxi rank in Rustenburg not
very far from where we are today.
According to the Taxi Scrapping Agency, in the North West, 23 taxi operators
have already been paid their R50 000 scrapping allowances. This information was
by Friday, 16 March (at 12noon) and I have been assured this number will
certainly increase with time.
For now:
* More than 1 000 taxi operators have applied for scrapping.
* Ninety have been called to the scrapping site in Mafikeng to be evaluated,
this is to ensure that the said taxis qualify and meet the stipulated scrapping
requirements.
* One hundred and thirty vehicles are currently being checked and cleared off
the National Traffic Information System (NATIS).
To mark this launch today we will crash five of those taxis that have been
identified and cleared for scrapping. The five taxis are representing our five
regions namely:
* northern, southern, western, central and eastern.
We can only look back with pride and say to ourselves what sounded like a
hollow dream is now reality.
Programme Director
I think it is important to slightly go back in history to understand where
we come from in this industry. The rich history of the taxi industry evolved
from the use of ordinary sedans doing business in townships.
However, as years went by it gradually become the most accessible, quicker
and trusted mode of public transport from one section of the township to the
other. Although sedans were and are still designed to carry not mere than four
passengers, the old Valiants and Chevrolets preferred by the taxi operators
then would carry and transport up to eight passengers at any given point in
time.
As townships became bigger, rapid urbanisation resulted in more townships.
More and more black people responded positively to the services rendered by the
informal taxi industry.
The industry had to grow faster in order to meet the demands of the
ever-rising numbers of the commuter population. This resulted in the
introduction of vehicles with a bigger seating capacity. The boom in the taxi
industry, which was and still is largely black owned and controlled, also had
its fair share of hardships under the apartheid system.
This was in terms of over-regulation, law enforcement and restrictions.
A concerted effort was initiated by the then apartheid regime to ensure that
the industry does not ply its trade alongside bus companies and rail. No
attempt was made to integrate the transport system for black people.
This was so especially in areas and routes that was lucrative and could
potentially "compromise" the economic benefits reserved for state and its white
controlled enterprises. The entrance of the minibus into the industry brought
its own challenges.
When the democratic government came into power, one of its major challenges
was to address the level of violence and loss of lives in the taxi
industry.
Pursuant to this the first Minister of Transport in the new South Africa,
Minister Mac Maharaj, established the National Taxi Task Team (NTTT), to
investigate the causes of violence in the industry.
Included in the NTTTs final recommendations were:
* formalisation and regulation of the taxi industry
* democratisation of the taxi industry
* economic empowerment of the taxi industry.
In 2005, government gazetted safety requirements for the new taxi
vehicles.
These compulsory requirements are as follows:
* rollover protection bars
* safety belts for all passengers
* side reflective warning markings
* commercial rated tyres of 185/195 C
* type 2A brake system
* no jockey seats
* speed governors to be fitted on all vehicles
* introduction of anti-tyre burst stabilisers.
Furthermore, Cabinet decided that all public transport vehicles operating in
the country in line with operating licenses must be colour coded for easy
identification.
Programme Director
Our taxi industry of North West has moved at great speed in meeting almost
all taxi recapitalisation requirements. We would not have achieved this level
of readiness had it not been for the astute and visionary leadership we have in
the Provincial Taxi Council and its business wing, Bokone Transport
Holdings.
The total number of applications received for conversion of permits into
operating licenses stand at 13 340 as at 15 February 2007, according to figures
from the Provincial Operating Licensing Board (POLB).
The North West Operating Licensing Board has adjudicated over 12 092
applications by the same date, 15 February 2007.
A total of 11 540 applications were approved. The board has to date issued 6
804 operating licenses.
The operators collected 6 313 operating licenses. I am calling on those who
have not collected to do so.
I want to call upon our taxi industry and our district and local
municipalities to co-operate effectively at transport forum levels to
effectively plan for 2010 public passenger transport requirements.
We are left with three years to 2010 and cannot delay this process any
longer and this industry has an important role to play in this regard. Your
role goes beyond ferrying spectators to and from the stadium.
You have to become true ambassadors for this country during the 2010 Soccer
World Cup. Transport authorities in the 12 host cities, should finalise high
quality network operational plans by September while rural public transport
plans should be developed for the six districts by October with implementation
taking place thereafter until 2010 and beyond.
Programme Director
I want to thank all of you gathered here today for sharing this momentous
occasion. I trust that this occasion once again illustrates government's
commitment to taxi industry empowerment and I trust that we will also be
strengthened by this event in our endeavours for an empowered taxi industry and
a better life for all.
Allow me, Programme Director, to reiterate my Department's full commitment
to the speedy and controlled recap roll-out in the province.
To this regard I call upon our taxi industry, district and local
municipalities to continue co-operating and to effectively participate in this
process.
It is my wish, Programme Director, that the sensitivities in and around
Rustenburg in this industry could be resolved soonest.
I thank you, ke a leboga.
Issued by: Department of Transport, Roads and Community Safety, North West
Provincial Government
18 March 2007
Source: North West Provincial Government (http://www.nwpg.gov.za/)
