Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele has commended South Africa Taxi Finance for its commitment towards spending about R20 million to repair more than 500 unsafe taxis it had financed.
“We want to commend South Africa Taxi Finance for its commitment towards spending about R20 million to ensure the converted taxis it had financed were modified in order to make them safe and roadworthy. We will also be meeting with other financial institutions and key vehicle manufacturers to ensure that their vehicles are roadworthy. We hope to finalise our investigation into illegally converted vehicles soon following recent media reports that certain taxis did not meet government’s safety standards. We want to reiterate that unsafe and unroadworthy vehicles will be removed from the roads.
“The Department of Transport is currently investigating reported incidences of illegally converted vehicles. The condition of the operating licence is that vehicles must meet the safety requirements as per the regulations. To this end, the recently announced national joint working group on public transport will also be dealing with this matter.
“In addition, the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) will be intensifying its investigation into illegal vehicle conversions and once the inspectorate of Manufacturers, Importers and Builders (MIBs) discovers that an MIB is performing such conversions, such MIB will be immediately suspended.
“Furthermore, the department will conduct an investigation of all dealers who changed the status of vehicles from panel vans to passenger carrying vehicles. The department will, with immediate effect, block all transactions relating to panel vans.
“All banks and financiers are aware of the published safety regulations and the list of compliant vehicles issued by the Department of Transport.
“Enforcement operations on vehicles that have been illegally converted will also be intensified and numerous such vehicles have already been pulled off the road. However, investigations continue and more and more of these vehicles will be taken off the road. Those who are found guilty will face the full might of the law.
“The Department of Transport must categorically state that the taxi recapitalization compliance list that gets published periodically is the only legal notice that outlines compliant vehicles as well as the compliant modifiers that have been certified by the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS).
“The position of the Department of Transport is very clear. The Taxi Recapitalisation Programme (TRP) is a government initiative introduced in the interest of all South Africans the passenger, the operator and all other road users. The primary objective is the safety of all citizens.
“The TRP is an intervention to bring about safe, effective, reliable, affordable and accessible taxi operations by introducing new taxi vehicles designed to undertake public transport functions in the taxi industry arena,” said the minister.
Enquiries:
Logan Maistry
Cell: 083 6444 050
Issued by: Department of Transport
31 July 2009
