Fikile Mbalula

Minister of transport

Score: 0

Fikile Mbalula will be remembered for one thing during the lockdown: bending over backwards for SA’S powerful taxi operators.

It should have been expected that “Razzmatazz” would cave, after he held a ridiculously crowded meeting at a Joburg taxi rank mere weeks into l ockdown, pleading with people to follow the regulations.

Mbalula also came under fire after gazetting regulations to allow minibus taxis to operate at 70% capacity, but then giving the goahead for 100% capacity after a meeting with taxi operators. He reverted to the original 70% after public outcry. Then, in July, taxis were allowed to operate at 100% capacity on short-distance trips, and 70% for long distance.

Booysen says the government’s weaknesses were on graphic display in the minister’s negotiations with the taxi industry. “The taxi bosses walked all over the minister [and the government],” she says.

Sarakinsky believes he was “outmanoeuvred and outplayed by the taxi industry”, resulting in flip-flopping and strange policy decisions. He says Mbalula also failed to take advantage of the lockdown to refurbish damaged public rail infrastructure.

February says Mbalula did not cover himself in glory, adding that communication from his department was also haphazard and unclear.

For Mathekga, Mbalula’s dealings with the taxi industry were simply a disaster.

Luyolo Mkentane