Mr KD Molusi, during the provincial launch of Transport Month
4 October 2007
Pampierstad
Programme Director
Honourable mayors
Head of Departments present here
Members of the Operating Licensing Board
Representatives of the Taxi Industry
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
We have gathered here today to celebrate the launch of the Transport Month
in Northern Cape, following the national launch that took place on 30 September
2007, in Johannesburg. I want to quote Transport Minister Jeff Radebe when he
launched Transport Month last weekend in Johannesburg. He said, "Transport
Month" has gone from strength to strength since the inaugural launch in 2005
and it has proved to be an excellent example of accountability on service
delivery."
I can attest to the Minister's statement because in Northern Cape this
campaign has grown to be one of the major events of the department. When we do
our budgets and even when we go for strategic sessions, we already know that we
have to set aside sufficient resources for the Transport Month in order to make
an impact on the lives of the people that we serve. We are compelled to put
much effort in the transport issues because we are aware of the challenges
facing our people.
We know that due to scarcity of transport, people struggle to access some
services. Some even die unnecessarily because they do not have transport to
ferry their sick people to clinics or hospitals. Programme Director, we are
aware that our people do not have taxi ranks. Today we are here to assure you
that we know your challenges and we are committed to provide you with services
that will improve your lives.
I am delighted to inform you that we have signed a Service Level Agreement
with the Phokwane Municipality for the construction of the new taxi rank. An
amount of R1,3 million will be spent on the construction of this taxi rank and
the project will start before the end of this year. The establishment of the
taxi rank will ease the transport challenges in Pampierstad, but then again, we
are saying, this is only the beginning. We are saying put your trust in us: we
have heard your concerns and we intend to assist you.
Ladies and gentlemen, our commitment to improving the lives involves
creating job opportunities. With this project, some community members will be
employed thereby enabling them to feed their families. Acknowledging that there
are problems, especially in the taxi industry, we also need to appreciate that
government has made enormous strides in resolving the conflicts. Surely we
remember that in the past years, there was a wave of taxi violence throughout
the country. These conflicts were mainly as a result of misunderstandings over
taxi routes.
Today we are gathered here, amongst other things, to launch the taxi
branding project in Pampierstad. This follows the decision we took to brand the
taxi vehicles in order to enhance visibility and accessibility for commuters.
Since then, taxi violence is the thing of the past, our taxi drivers know that
they can no longer "steal" the others' routes and for that, I wish to commend
that.
We have said, as part of the Taxi Recapitalisation Programme, all the New Taxi
Vehicles must be colour-coded. As you will see later when we unveil the branded
taxi vehicle, national identity for taxis includes a uniform colour, a brand
design derived from the South African national flag and a route marker that
includes the provincial logo and route number according to the operating
licence. This is one of the methods that we implemented to formalise and
regulate the taxi industry in accordance with the National Land Transport Act
of 2000.
In line with the regulations of branding the taxis vehicles, in Northern
Cape, we have started two months ago to brand the taxi vehicles in Kimberley
and Upington and we are taking this process to other parts of the province.
Programme Director, allow me to provide an in-depth detail of how important is
this exercise in the maintenance of order in the taxi industry, for the benefit
of community members.
Ladies and gentlemen, the markers that you will see on the branded taxis
serve as a law enforcement tool in conjunction with the new operating license
system. They are saying to you this is a legitimate service, you are assured of
safety and over and above all; they confirm compliance to the National Land
Transport Transition Act Regulations. As I said earlier, this branding is a
mechanism to resolve conflicts by facilitating agreements on taxi routes,
thereby reducing violence in the taxi industry. Again ladies and gentlemen,
these markers send a message to taxi operators who are not complying with the
prescribed regulations. They will be easily identified by the law enforcement
officers and their vehicles could be impounded. Overall, this branding project
Programme Director, enhances a user-friendly public transport system and also
maintain uniformity among planning authorities.
Programme Director, before I leave, I just want to touch on the issue of
Taxi Recapitalisation which seem to have caused confusion in the taxi industry.
The Taxi Recapitalisation Programme came as a result of the concern that
government had about the safety of millions of passengers who commute with
taxis on a daily basis. The programme was initiated to replace the current
unsafe and ageing 16-seater taxi fleets with purpose-built larger capacity and
more comfortable new taxi vehicles. Because safety of our passengers was our
priority, we said these larger vehicles must have safety measures which include
safety belts for all passengers in the vehicle.
Indeed the introduction of this project has been met with some resistance
from some parts of the taxi industry, but I want to believe that it is
operators who are ill-informed about the objective of this programme. Members
of the taxi industry who are here, I want to reassure you that the taxi
recapitalisation programme was not introduced to create animosity between you
and government. It is not our intention to push you out of the industry; we
need your service for our people. We are just saying, the taxi vehicles must be
roadworthy and must be safe to be used by the public.
I must however, mention that I am happy about the progress that we have made
since we launched taxi recapitalisation in Northern Cape. It indicates that
indeed the message is getting through. Out of the 175 vehicles we have
received, 131 have been scrapped and the remaining ones will be scrapped in two
weeks' time. I am calling upon all the taxi operators with old taxi vehicles to
contact the department in order to have their vehicles replaced.
Going back to the branding that I spoke about earlier, I want the operators
to be aware that the life of the route marker on the taxis will correspond with
the expiry date of the operating licence. When you apply for the operating
licence, the Operating Licensing Board will provide you with an operating
licence as well as the branding set containing the South African national flag,
a route marker that includes the provincial logo and the route number according
to the operating licence.
I am appealing to all the operators to ensure that they maintain the
distinguishing markers on their new taxi vehicles by ensuring that the marker
is clearly legible at all times. You are not allowed to remove damage or place
any other advertisement on or next to the distinguishing marker; it is a
serious offence. Programme Director, in conclusion, I want to thank all the
stakeholders in the transport industry for their unwavering support in the
projects that seek to address the transport challenges in Northern Cape.
Indeed we still have a long way to go but at all times we remember the
commitment we made to better the lives of the people by creating jobs and
eradicating poverty. We have a number of projects that we intend to implement
to improve the mobility of the people. For us to win this battle we need the
involvement of everyone; community members, you have a role to play as well.
Come up with ideas of how we can improve your lives. We have unmediated methods
such as Imbizo meetings, use those platforms. The next Imbizo is taking place
on 22 to 28 October 2007; make sure that you participate in these forums. Let
us deepen the debate South Africans!
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Transport, Roads and Public Works, Northern Cape
Provincial Government
4 October 2007
Source: Northern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.northern-cape.gov.za)
