Taxi industry, minster meet to discuss and plan the way forward
TRANSPORT Minister Fikile Mbalula said he is committed to transforming the economics of the taxi industry as he addressed the provincial Taxi Lekgotla at the Cape Sun Hotel yesterday.
Mbalula together with Transport and Public Works MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela aim to pave the way for parties in the industry to engage each other and address a number of issues plaguing the sector through the provincial lekgotla.
“The lekgotla must also be understood in the context of the broader public transport transformation which must deliver a public transport system that is safe, affordable, efficient and reliable.
“We are convening a National Taxi Lekgotla to address challenges facing this industry and achieve consensus on the blueprint of the future taxi industry anchored on formalisation and a subsidised industry as an integral part of a broader economic empowerment model,” said Mbalula.
He highlighted that the industry continued to be characterised by conflicts and violence as a consequence of competition for routes or leadership roles.
Madikizela said 87 operators and drivers have been killed this year alone, with 63 cases registered for murder, double murder and triple murder cases.
“Placing the lives of innocent commuters at risk to achieve narrow self-serving interests of individuals is unacceptable, and we must agree that this is a non-negotiable. Equally, the prevalence of gender-based violence in the taxi industry is a demon that must be confronted head-on and eradicated.
“Not only must the full might of the law be brought to bear against those who perpetuate this heinous crime, associations and industry leaders must take active steps to shun and expose those who continue with this behaviour,” he said.
Madikizela thanked police for the progress being made in bringing the perpetrators of violent acts to book.
“A dedicated team of detectives was established and is now being expanded to investigate taxi-related crimes. Over the last three years, this team has made 143 arrests. Five convictions have been secured and another 65 cases are currently on the court rolls,” said Madikizela said.
South African National Taxi Council provincial chairperson Nazeem Abdurahman said: “We are here as the voice of the people that we represent to make sure that the industry takes up its rightful place in the economic mainstream of this country. Not only are we serving the most vulnerable through a public transport service, but we realise that we play a major role in uplifting our society. The taxi industry has developed out of a need where our marginalised communities were placed far from places of work, places of worship, recreation and learning.”
Although other modes of transport were subsidised in order to maintain an economic, viable operational structure, the minibus taxi industry was kept outside the subsidised structure, he said.
“Operators, already cash-strapped and confronted by all sorts of bureaucratic and financial restrictions imposed by banks, had to find their way around in order to put vehicles on the road,” said Abdurahman.
“We are serving the most vulnerable through public transport service
Nazeem Abdurahman Santaco