Minibus operators baffled by ‘phase-out’
Illegal taxis in Atlantis, Table View and Dunoon will be impounded
THE City’s plan to withdraw the remainder of taxis operating in Atlantis, Table View and Dunoon affected by the completion of a phase of the My citi bus roll-out is another move to eradicate the taxi industry altogether, local taxi associations say.
The City yesterday announced its intention to withdraw the remainder of the minibus taxis operating in the three areas as the My Ci Ti Phase 1 roll-out nears completion. This will take place over the next few weeks.
Any minibus taxi operating illegally within these areas will be impounded by law enforcement officials, the City said yesterday.
By the end of next month the City will have compensated 337 taxi operators in the areas with nearly R222 million in exchange for their vehicles and operating licences to make way for the My Ci Ti bus service.
“Apart from the compensation, the City is also offering the minibus-taxi operators the opportunity to join Kidrogen – the My Citi vehicle-operating company along the West Coast – as shareholders.
“Furthermore, we are offering their staff employment within the My-citi system, either as My-citi bus drivers once they have concluded their driver-training, for which the City pays, as part of station management, or within advertising or landscaping,” said Mayco member for Transport Brett Herron.
The number of minibus taxi withdrawals in Atlantis will be 149 and 229 in Table View and Dunoon.
Retreat Taxi Association chairperson, Basil Nagel said although the City said its plan was to grow the public transport sector and integrate it, it left consumers with little choice other than using the myciti service.
“The City does not know what it is doing with transport and transport planning. The City is forcing the Myciti service on customers.”
Nagel said the taxi industry had been neglected and more funds should be pumped into the existing industry, but instead, the City was taking steps to eradicate the service completely.
He also questioned whether money from the City would be enough compensation for the loss of business.
South African National Taxi Council chairperson of the Greater Cape area Leon Williams said he had not been involved in negotiations with the City on this matter, but said it seemed the City was phasing out the taxi industry.
He said he “hoped” the drivers had negotiated for suitable compensations for their business with the City. Williams said members would have had to contemplate whether the money they surrendered their business for was worth it.
He, however, said the city’s assurance of a job would benefit those otherwise left without employment.
Except for minibus taxis transporting commuters from Witsand to Atlantis, no other will be allowed to operate within or on route to Atlantis after July 10.
The City said engagements were under way to possibly introduce minibus-taxi services to destinations outside Atlantis that are not being served by Myciti yet.