Statement by the Transport Minister, Mr Joe Maswanganyi, on the outcome of the meeting between the Department of Transport, the meter taxi associations and the e-hailing operators (Uber, Taxify and ZebraCabs) held at the 10111 Command Centre in Midrand
Lieutenant General Masiya;
Major General Hendricks;
Major General Mthombeni;
Acting Director General – Mr Mathabatha Mokonyama;
Acting Deputy Director General for Public Transport – Hament Patel;
Government Officials from all spheres of government
Representatives of the National as well as Provincial Taxi Associations
Members of the Media;
Ladies and Gentlemen
I greet you all and welcome to this media briefing.
The Department of Transport is a leader in the development of an integrated, efficient, effective, safe, reliable transport system by creating a framework of sustainable policies, regulations and implementable models to support government for economic, social and international development.
It is within this context that we regulate all modes of transport in South Africa, being; air, sea and land. The land transport side is further categorised into rail, bus, taxis and freight.
This media briefing is intended to report on the outcomes of the meeting held between the Department of Transport, Senior Members of the South Africa Police Service, Meter Taxi Associations and the E-Hailing Application technology providers, which was held throughout the day.
Ladies and Gentlemen, section 50 of the National Land Transport Act states that no person may operate a road-based public transport service, unless he or she is the holder of a legal operating licence or a permit. This means therefore, that anyone who operates a public transport service for reward without an Operating Licence will be violating the law.
As a precursor to the deliberations in the meeting, we agreed that the National Land Transport Act of 2009 (NLTA) is the primary piece of legislation that makes provision for the regulation of road-based public transport and will therefore form the basis to resolve the challenges presented in the meeting.
Outright government denounced any acts of violence and intimidation in the meter taxi industry by all operators, both in the traditional Meter Taxi Industry and the E-Hailing services.
We also called on the affected parties to immediately seize acts of intimidation, disorder and violence which engulfed the industry.
We also appealed to the affected parties to stop any public spats that have the potential to fuel and prolong the tension.
An operating licence is only issued on application made in terms of this National Land Transport Act (NLTA) by the National Public Transport Regulator, a Provincial Regulatory Entity or a municipality to which the operating licence function has been assigned, as the case may be, after considering all the factors.
In relation to the maximum validity period of operating licences, an operating licence is valid for a maximum period of seven years, but where a negotiated contract has been awarded to an operator under section 41 of the ACT for more than seven years, such an operating licence must be issued for the period of the contract in terms of section 56 of the ACT.
In terms of the Act, an operating licence may only be issued to and held by the person registered, in terms of the National Road Traffic Act, as the owner or operator of the vehicle, as defined in the Act, and specified in the operating licence.
The Act makes provision that all the vehicles that provide road-based public transport must have signage that identifies them as a provider of public transport service. This is also a requirement that is provided in the National Land Transport Act.
The meeting emphasised the provisions of the NLTA that the public servants and their spouses, partners and immediate family members must be impartial, and must have no direct financial or business interest in any sector of the public transport industry, and may not decide or adjudicate on a matter in which they have such an interest.
The Public Service regulations also prohibit civil servants from participating in any form of remunerative work or business prior approval.
Following this meeting and to ensure a safe environment for both the public and public transport operators, the Law Enforcement Agencies will continuously monitor all the identified hotspots to prevent acts of intimidation and violence.
It must be noted that perpetrators of violence and intimidation will be immediately dealt with in terms of the applicable laws.
We also call on the members of the public to be vigilant with regard to acts of intimidation and violence, perceived or real, to contact their nearest Police Station or to report such incidences by calling the 0860010111 number.
As government, we committed to further engage with the Meter Taxi Association and E-Hailing Services which includes Uber, Taxify and Zebracabs.
I thank you.
