Pretoria: As part of his undertaking to kick-start a series of engagements with various transport stakeholders, Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele earlier today (Friday, 26 June 2009) met with the leadership of the National Taxi Alliance (NTA) in Pretoria.
The Minister said that he was confident that matters raised by the NTA will be resolved through the recently announced National Joint Working Group on Public Transport.
"At our meeting with the taxi industry at Gallagher Estate in Johannesburg on 11 June, we announced the formation of a National Joint Working Group on Public Transport. We are confident that all outstanding matters pertaining to public transport will be resolved through the Working Group. We, both as government and the taxi industry, want to move from an environment characterised by conflict to one based on trust, better understanding of our respective responsibilities and effective implementation of agreements.
It is important that government and the taxi industry pursue a common agenda with full commitment and determination to provide a sustainable, effective, safe and affordable public transport system to our people.
"Once there are no outstanding matters, we can then proceed to the real issue, which is ensuring the meaningful participation of this sector (taxi industry) in the economy of South Africa. As stated previously, if I may ask: where are blacks, and particularly Africans, located in the mainstream economy of our country? In my engagement with the taxi industry, I have never understood why the taxi industry, which is black-owned, controlled and run, still remains at the margins in economic terms.
"The taxi industry must become part of the mainstream of our economy and ensure the empowerment of our people. Transport operators must broaden their participation to include areas such as rail, freight and logistics and aviation services. Working together we can do more," said the Minister.
Since his appointment on 11 May, Minister Ndebele has already met with various transport stakeholders. Meetings with other transport stakeholders have also been planned so that the country's transport strategic programme would eventually be implemented inclusively.
Enquiries:
Logan Maistry
Cell: 083 644 4050
Issued by: Department of Transport
26 June 2009
Source: SAPA
