North West Premier's intervention averts taxi strike

A looming strike by taxi operators in the North West Province was averted after North West Premier, Mme Thandi Modise, intervened in the impasse between the Provincial Taxi Council and the Provincial Department of Public Works, Roads, and Transport. The meeting facilitated by Premier Modise on Thursday in Mahikeng, endorsed the establishment of an interim structure within the next two weeks, to expedite the adjudication of operating taxi permits applications.

Parties in the dispute agreed that, the interim structure would act as the Provincial Regulatory Entity, to process applications which had accumulated over the past two months since the North West Licensing Operating Board ceased to exist.

There was unanimous agreement that, the manual permits system compromises passenger safety as it could not verify the roadworthiness of vehicles, also increased corruption and fraud among officials, and within the taxi industry.

The Provincial Taxi Council had approached the Premier for intervention, as their members were adversely affected by the delay in processing operating permits.

They complained that temporary operating licenses that were issued were not recognised in other provinces and by the banks for applications for finance, forcing operators to approach unscrupulous financiers.

The taxi industry delegation led by the Secretary General of South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO), Phillip Taaibosch, conceded that challenges relating to the eNatis system cannot be addressed at provincial level, but should be referred to the appropriate inclusive structure established by the National Department of Transport, to oversee their resolution.

MEC for Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison, Ms Desbo Mohono, appealed to SANTACO and the Provincial Council, to urge their members to ensure that their vehicles are roadworthy ahead of the festive season, as zero tolerance law enforcement operations will not compromise on passenger safety.

In response to MEC Mohono’s concern about speeding, aggressive driving among taxi, etiquette and customer care, Taaibosch indicated that SANTACO will be launching a training academy on Monday, to respond to these areas of concern.

The Chairperson of the Provincial Taxi Council, Mlandeli Xhuma, hailed the urgent meeting that the Premier had granted the council at short notice as a breakthrough that should bring stability to the public transport industry.

Premier Modise emphasised that the provision of safe affordable public transport is the responsibility of government, and expressed the appreciation of commitment towards a partnership for a safer public transport and a viable economy.

Modise proposed that a Bus Rapid Transport summit and a taxi Indaba, to explore the viability of the taxi industry in the light of targeted new license applications, should be held early in the new year.

She committed to take up issues that require resolution by the national Department of Transport with Minister Sibusiso Ndebele, and emphasised that there was a need for the provincial department to work on building trust between itself and the taxi industry.

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